It’s late of a summer evening
The news is over and the rosary said
Time for all young boys to be in bed
I walk upstairs to my room
It’s at the head of the stairs to the left.

Nan is still doing something downstairs
Like she does every night before bed
I watched her once or twice
She has a Purity Syrup bottle in her hand
It’s full of holy water Father Howard blessed
When he stopped in to visit when last he was home.

Nan never locks her doors at night
She goes to both outside doors
And from the inside she makes
The sign of the cross with holy water
She’s been doing this for years
It must work.

She’s never had a break-in
Or a fire, or any other damage
But Nan’s not finished yet
She whispers a prayer as she walks
Up the stairs, stops at my door
Makes another sign of the cross.

And sure enough I get the holy water
Square in the face. Should be used to it by now.
“Goodnight my son, and God bless,”
As she continues down the hall
Performs the same ritual at each door.

Now Nan will go to sleep
So sound, cause nothing bad can happen here.
God in his wisdom and mercy
will see to that. Cause He knows
Nan will stand before Him one day
And he doesn’t want to let her down.

Cyril Griffin
New Perlican, NL