Seeing as I am
sleepy

she decides
to tell me a tale
for a change.

Tucks her teddy in beside me.

She knows how
it all goes.

“The squirrel
and the mountain

had a quarrel.

It was a girl squirrel
and a boy mountain.”

I nod my head
To confirm that I heard

She adds as if that
explained everything.

She tells me to take my thumb
out of my mouth.

“So the mountain
threw its rocks

at the squirrel
& the squirrel

threw its nuts
at the mountain.”


“The End!

“I made it up myself you know! ”

”Well, did ya like it? ”

I pretend to be asleep
snore theatrically.

Hold my breath
try not to laugh.

She strokes my hair
sighs & says:
“Ahhhhhhh! ”

Then tiptoes
tentatively out.

Tells Mummy:
“Shhhh...Daddy’s sleeping! ”

Dónall Dempsey

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/bedtime-story-for-scarlet-ribbons/