Frightened Night Child Poem by Rachel Branscombe

Even now I hear the weeping
The poor girl crying herself to sleep
She knows not why she cries
But tears come anyway
She's frightened but does not know
what scares away her sleep
Maybe it's the darkness that fills her fear that steals her slumber
A noise fills her ear and she shakes with fear
What could the noise be?
It was the tree outside her room
She hears as a howling monster
Wanting to eat her
She leaps from the bed
and runs down the hall
Her parents none too pleased to see her
Another night of unrest
For the child afraid of the night