They called us often

Her voice called us

Called us to wake us

Called us for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Called us back from Never Never Land

Called us back from Narnia

Called us back from the wardrobe

Called us to chores, to homework, to play,

Called us back to home

Called us back to love.

 

His voice called us often

Called us back from upstairs

Called us to tell us an interesting fact or story

Called us when we were in trouble

Called us when he came home after work

Called us over the distance

Called us to challenge us to think

Called us to challenge us to achieve

Called us, and in that call, we heard, love.

 

As we grew, the calls changed

They called us with news

They called us to gatherings

They called us to check in

They called us with advice

They called us with interesting stories

They called us home

 

When we were young their voices were strong and powerful

Their voices shattered evil spells

Sent monsters back slithering under the bed

Sent us love, and love, and love.

 

Then their voices got tired

or maybe we were so busy living

that we forgot to listen to their call.

 

Then their voices got old

Then their voices reached out to us

They called to us to tell us things

They called to us to tell us truths

They called to us to remind us where Alice had lost the key

They called to us for help.

 

Now their voices are lost to us

Our ships flounder and toss at sea

The siren call that was their voices

That always pointed out the way home

Is quiet.

 

Now

Now, no matter how often we call that number

No one is there to answer.

 

But on a cold night

I stand on a frozen pond

I listen with all my heart

I clap for tinkerbell

I clap and clap and I believe

And on that cold pond,

I hear the wind carrying those words

Those words they whispered to each of us

oh so softly when we were asleep

Sweet dreams my love

Sweet dreams.