©1991 by Susan Noyes Anderson

Each night my mother sings to me––
her favorite lullabies.
She rocks me gently back and forth
until I close my eyes.

She strokes my cheek and pats my back
and croons of slumber deep.
Give me a break––I’m eight years old!
Can’t I just go to sleep?

Duck and cover! She’s baaa-aaack…