TICKLES COTTAGE

BERTIE-BERTIE BUTTONHEAD

Bertie-Bertie Buttonhead

Stays for days wrapped up in bed.

Snores and snores for hours and hours,

Misses the sunshine and the flowers,

Misses the rain clouds and the storm,

Wrapped up tight in his blankets, warm.

So if you try to meet him,

Or if you try to greet him,

If you stomp or if you creep,

Though thunder be a breakin'

And the whole house be a shakin',

There is nothing that'll waken

Bertie from his sleep.

HOW ALARMING

Today I bought a new alarm

It hugged me with its longer arm

"Set me for noon," it said with a cough.

"That's a good time for me to go off."

"No," I said, "I've a very early morning."

"Well," it replied, "I need some warning.

Leave me a note, that's a good chap.

Now let us catch a little nap."

At one it thought it was set for fun

At two it didn't know what to do

At three it fell asleep with me

At four I heard the alarm clock snore

At five I thought it came alive

At six it swapped its tocks for ticks

At seven it thought it was eleven

At eight it said I had to wait

At nine I took that clock of mine

And checked how it was wired.

The alarm then said, "I'm off to bed.

I'm feeling awfully tired."

LISTEN TO THE DARKNESS

When the light is out

When the bedroom creaks

And the curtains are drawn

And the darkness speaks

As it moves toward you

Do you clutch your sheet?

Scrunch closed your eyes

As it nears your feet?

But when darkness speaks,

Does it bring a warning? 

Or kiss you good night, saying, "Sleep well, child.

I'll be gone in the morning."