She works until midnight

 
She works until midnight tonight –
The sentence makes me pause as I remember,
once upon a time…
Midnight was the hour when the party got going,
when liquified dancing took over my mind
and I couldn’t even imagine her;
Because that was way before her time.

Later, midnight was the hour
of waking up groggy
for feeding and rocking
and burping and changing,
thinking the tiredness would never end;
But that was before her childhood.

Then, midnight became the hour
for one last check on the sleeping cherub -
the boisterous daytime hurricane
turned embodiment of peace;
But that was before adolescence.

Now midnight is the time
to wait in the car while she clocks out,
watch her approach in her confident grace,
gaining independence so achingly fast,
And to pray for her future midnights.