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! ”
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Oh, Dear Donall, the joy that you spread around when you makes these trips to the heartland of childhood....there is nothing more beautiful than this love that you have for your child...nothing! Thanks for sharing it with me...