Bedtime Stories (for David)

This was written for my grandson David, born 31-Dec-2014 and published to celebrate his 3rd birthday.

Bedtime Stories

He really likes his post-bath bedtime stories
before he shuts his eyes
My grandson and I, in the big soft bed
His face bright with wonder
as we rediscover the delights
of the tale of the three little pigs
and the Big Bad Wolf
of whom he, at least, does not appear to be afraid.

He really likes the Big Bad Wolf;
He mimes the hurricane destruction
of the inferior domiciles
of the pathetic younger pigs;
the straw and the wood no match
for David's lupine huffing.

He laughs at the wolf's scorched arse
as the eldest pig turns the tables
His brain is alive with words
that dance around the illustrations.

On we move to the three skeletons
whose voices I must mimic, and so does he
Their adventures in the night
(scaring the town)
like an endless loop
but this does not concern David.

He really likes the skeletons;
he appreciates the certainties of their routine
and he predicts the next page
with unerring accuracy;
How weird would it be if, one night,
the skeletons stayed at home?

Finally the fairy who's hard of hearing.
There's a moral to this one
that is presently lost on the boy
but he really likes the rhymes;
carrot,parrot;
mouse,louse;
cat,bat;
Keep with those rhymes son,
keep with the rhythm of words;
Let them seep into your senses
and chant them to Morpheus;
the skeletons, the wolf, the pigs
and the fairy's misheard rhymes.

He really likes this, and so do I.

(c) Tim Fellows 2017