“THE TRUCKER’S LULLABY”


The sun had left me hours ago and it was getting late
I started gearing down so I could leave the interstate
I barely saw a sign that told about a place to sleep
The restaurant's always open and their rooms were fairly cheap

I got off at the exit with a feeling it was right
So me and all my eighteen wheels rolled in to spend the night
I stepped out of my rig and then that's when it caught my eye
Those bright red letters said this was “The Trucker's Lullaby”
I got the strangest feeling and a chill came over me
As I stood staring at the words that haunt my memory

My mind tried very hard to tell my heart it wasn't so
It couldn't be the same name she had called me years ago
Then suddenly I noticed why I didn't see the name
The letters that spelled Lullaby did not light up the same

Since I was very tired I decided I would stay
I got a room and prayed my thoughts of her would go away
I went inside the restaurant to have a bite to eat
The waitress brought me coffee by the time I took a seat
I asked her if she knew the lights were out in Lullaby
A sadness took away her smile and then she told me why

She said, "That sign has never worked it's been that way so long
The owner didn't want it changed, she said there's nothing wrong
Our business would do better if the sign was working right
But truckers never stop because it can't be seen at night

My momma put it up so high she wanted to be sure
His name would light the darkest sky to lead him back to her
She told me all about him and the secret they would keep
How he would sing her lullabies until she fell asleep
He drove an eighteen wheeler and he traveled everywhere
But things just didn't work out right since he was seldom there

Yet when I'd ask about the man it always made her cry
The only one she ever loved was"Trucker Lullaby"
My momma never gave up hope her love was very strong
Sometimes I'd hear her pray for God to right what she did wrong

Before my momma died last year she said these words to me"
"Your daddy's out there still alive and someday you will see"
"She always said if I had faith then God would send my dad
And he would finally see the child he never knew he had"
When she had told me everything I knew why I was there
Yet she had no idea God had answered momma’s prayer

I couldn't sleep at all that night unsure of what to do
My only child was waiting for the dad she never knew
Before the sun began to shine I packed my things to leave
I paid my bill and left a note they said she would receive

When I pulled out that morning in my mirror I could see
The Lullaby was shining just as bright as it could be
The note I left for her had said "You've made a dream come true
I suffered many years because I loved your momma too
And I'll be back tomorrow night so this is not good-bye
I Love You" and I signed the note"The Trucker Lullaby"


© By: Freda H. Babinski
3-19-98