A Bedtime Duel

Goodnight, my child. I hope you sleep good
No talking tonight. Right to sleep, understood?

Just one more thing, Dad, I've got to tell
How many pennies are in the wishing well.
You know, the one we saw at the zoo.
I counted them all while I waited for you.
There was six hundred and fifty two!

That's great, honey, but it's time for sleep.
Now not another word, not even a peep.

But, Dad, listen, do you know what?
I can keep one eye open while the other is shut.
I can switch them real fast like this, see?
Things move when I do that. How can this be?
I bet you can't do it faster than me!

Sweetie, you're right. Now get some rest.
It's very late. To sleep now is best.

Hey, Dad in the morning, if you're not busy,
Can we do somersaults? They make me dizzy.
Especially when I do a whole bunch,
right before breakfast and just after lunch.

Yes, maybe so, but not tonight.
It's time to rest, though tomorrow we might.

And, Dad, if we could I'd like to play
That new game you taught me the other day.
What was it called again? Do you remember just now?
Pin the tail on the pig? No, horse? No, cow?
Oh ya, Donkey, that's right. I'd forgotten somehow.

Okay! Alright! That's enough. No more talk.
Open it once more and in goes a sock!

Ah, Dad, I'm sorry. I like talking with you
And thinking of all the stuff that we do
And all of the things we can do tomorrow
Like taking a ride in our big wheelbarrow
And pretend it's a rocket ship headed for space
Or the fastest car in the front of a race
Or maybe a chariot that we ride through Rome
and wave to the crowds on the way to our home.
It's a great big house on the highest hill.
We probably couldn't afford it, but still,
In my mind it's all true and that's okay.
That's what we do when we both play.
But ya, I say we call it a day.


Dad?


Dad?


Pssh, Dad, I knew you were sleepy.

I've Often Wondered

I've often wondered how it would be 

To have my bed up high in a tree or to have it down low so no one could see 

Under the ground, underneath me 

I wonder how many creatures I'd scare 

If I did have a bed down under there 

Or what about a bed higher than that 

Like one on top of Mount Ararat 

From there I could be as high as a bird and say, "Good night!" so that everyone heard 

Then I'd snuggle down deep in my bed and sleep 

And dream of high things in a sleep so deep 

Or what if my bed was made like a boat 

One made of wood so it could float 

I could sail while asleep to visit new places 

And wake up in a land of smiling faces 

Because they would all have neat beds like me 

In which to travel across the sea 

What would it be like to have a bed on Mars 

Or high in the heavens among the stars 

I'd make my bed on a swift moving comet 

It would pass by the Earth with just me on it 

Then the whole world could see me as I zoomed by 

Blowing kisses goodnight from up in the sky

A Sleepy Poem

My eyes are heavy, my shoulders droopy 

My legs are sloppy, my mind is loopy 

I'm ever so sleepy, I must stay awake 

I must get to my bed, a chance I must take 

For there's such a great distance between it and me

 

Too far to be safe, too far don't you see? 

Perhaps too far of a walk to make 

To get to my bed for sleepiness' sake

But I must reach my pillow before it's too late

Or sleep on the floor with my pet puppy, Nate 

And all of the other things there on the floor 

Toys and stuff between my bed and the door

 

Oh I wish I could be there, 

I wish it were so 

To be snug as a bug in a rug, but no 

First I must get there, then lay my head down 

On my big fluffy pillow full of goose down 

Just two more steps, or maybe one giant leap! 

Now I can stop wishing, 

I'm going to sleep.

I Was Going to Bed Early

I was going to bed early, truly I was 

But I couldn't just yet, I couldn't because 

There were too many things I needed to do 

So many things, not just a few 

I was going to bed early, but wouldn't you know 

I had a phone call to make to my friend Jamie Jo 

We talked for hours on into the night 

Of wonderful things with great insight 

I was going to bed early, but there was laundry to wash 

Not my favorite thing to do, but gosh 

It had to be done or I'd have nothing to wear 

So I went to bed later, it didn't seem fair 

I was going to bed early, I needed my rest 

Eight o'clock it seemed would most likely be best 

Just one show on TV would be nice before bed 

But I watched six and it was midnight instead 

I was was going to bed early, this night for sure 

I had found the answer, been told of the cure 

Read a book, watch the news, and then count sheep 

You'll be out like a light. You'll fall fast asleep

I was going to bed early, but those things didn't work 

I tossed and I turned, went completely berserk 

The book was amazing, and so was the news 

And I found I could count sheep faster by twos 

I was going to bed early, I'd make it this time 

I would write out this poem, I'd finish my rhyme 

And be able to say in a verse to you 

"I've done it!" I'd say. Now you can too!