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My Mummy Can Do Anything

She tucked the twins into bed

With the sun

Both children tired and ready to rest.

Darkness fell quickly

Warm, fragrant and black.

Night creatures were instantly busy.

 

Clinking about with pots and pans

She finished evening chores

And made a tasty sandwich

For Daddy's late night return

Weary and hungry.

Suddenly, the faintest call:

'Mummy. Mummy,' plaintively.

She went quickly to the bedroom.

'Sssshhh, Sweetie. Don't waken your sister.

What's the matter?'

She dropped a kiss into soft curls.

 

'I can't get to sleep.

Tell the stars to be quiet. They're too noisy!'

So upset, close to tears.

 

'The stars, Honey?'

 

'Yes! Just listen to them.

All the stars talking – talking so loud!

Tell them to stop.

I can't get to sleep!'

 

'Well ... Ahhh …

That noise isn't the stars, Love.

The palms and bushes around our house

Are full of little frogs

No bigger than your thumb.

Hundreds of them.

They come out at night

Mummies and daddies and children

To eat and play and chat.

And they do have a big, chirpy croak

For such small creatures.

You're right. They are noisy!

But now that you know what they are

If you listen to them for a bit

Without feeling cross

I don't think they will seem so loud -

Just interesting.'

 

Five minutes later she tiptoed back to check.

The child was fast asleep

Still smiling.

 

 

 

 

Cynthia Buell Thomas, March, 2018

◄ In Praise of Books of Poetry

Poets and Poetry ►

Comments

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Sun 4th Mar 2018 11:07

Thank you so much for your responses. Such moments string like jewels around the heart because we all share them, no matter when or where we live.

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Raj Ferds

Sun 4th Mar 2018 09:36

A splendid piece Cynthia, beautifully culled.

I must say you have distilled the very essence of childhood tales at their nocturnal best.

I vividly remember that great grandfather's clock keeping me awake, until I learnt to see it as a sweet substitute for a lullaby.

Here's something to ponder over -- A Buddhist friend once said to me "you will only notice the presence of a clock when it stops ticking".

Raj xx

<Deleted User> (18118)

Sat 3rd Mar 2018 19:04

Delightful.
Absolutely loved it.

Hannah

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Trevor Alexander

Sat 3rd Mar 2018 12:40

Lovely piece. Invokes (for me) a long gone Enid Blyton childhood, so reassuring. Really enjoyed it.

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Graham Sherwood

Sat 3rd Mar 2018 12:09

What an absolutely charming piece CBT. Night noises are something we are all disturbed by.

Quite recently (permeating my dreams) I could hear a baby crying, it turned out to be a couple of distant cats squaring up to each other in the night.

Love the idea of frogs sounding like stars! Oh that they could sing to us!

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