The bedtime story ends. “Love you. Good night,”
the grown-ups say, clicking off the light.
They tiptoe away. I snuggle down in bed
to raid the secret bookshelf in my head.
I think to myself the stories that I know
by heart. Last night I tracked the Gruffalo
in dark, mousey woods. Tomorrow I’ll hitch
a broomstick ride with my friend Winnie the Witch,
and tell her about the Tiger Who Came to Tea!
Tonight in a pea-green boat I’ll sail the sea
with an Owl, who loves to play his guitar and sing,
and his Pussycat bride, on their quest for a piggywig ring.
After their wedding, we’ll feast on the moonlit sand,
the cat and the owl and I, in Bong-tree Land,
then dance through the night until, too tired to keep
my eyelids open I dream us all to sleep