Family Lullaby

• Tegan Stockdale
• Poetry
• 2010

Sweet little baby, rest your frail head,
Sound asleep as if you were dead.
Mother will come before you awake,
And then she’ll give you a cake that she’s baked.
Father will come and squeeze your small hand,
And he’ll teach you a song for your band.

Aunty will come and spin you around,
And tell you that you’ll never be bound.
Uncle will come and you’ll play peek-a-boo,
Then he’ll run from your baby poo.
Both of them will chase away your fears,
Always there and forever near.

Grandpa will tell you stories of youth.
Then he’ll take you to a photo booth.
Grandma will show you old treasures,
She’ll go beyond ordinary measures.
Both of them will bribe you deals,
All so that you’ll never squeal.

All these people always here,
Hugging you like a mama bear.
Though this family’s far from the norm,
You’ll know they’ll never be a bore.
Now close your eyes, and say your goodbyes,
We’ll greet you when the sunshine kisses you.