.Uncle Calm ©

Uncle Calm
Everyone sleeps, every creature,
Children sleep, adults and teachers,
Elephants and swallows sleep, but
Tony is in a wake too deep.
He’s up, and he is hearing
How the others breathe. He’s peering:
“Tick tock” is ticking from the dark...
In the window: watch-dogs bark.

— “Sleep, my boy”, he’s asked by Mother,
But he doesn’t — much too stubborn.
Suddenly, the wall clock strums...
Here he comes: The Uncle Calm.

Uncle Calm slips into the house,
Over crib leans with no doubts,
On a string above his head,
Small balloon of light-blue shade.
Not like a balloon, exactly -
It’s a lantern glowing gently!
Blue light’s flickering in waves.
Uncle Calm in whisper says:

— “One, Two, Three and Four!” Let's browse,
Who is still awake in-house?!
Everyone now needs to sleep.
Who is not, we will not keep.”
Then the lantern ends+ its glow,
And from all its many doors,-
Birds at once have been unlocked:
The bullfinches striking flock.

Whoosh. Above boy, very friendly
Noisy wings have whistled, gently,
Tony mumbles like a psalm:
— “Give me one bird, Uncle Calm.”
“Cannot do, boy, no more words!
We’re just dreaming of this bird,
You have been some time asleep,
Sweet dreams, kiddy, tight and deep”
                                                                        2019