A Poem Inspired by Reading with My Daughters!

I am helping the 6th grade students at my school understand what a ballad is - a songlike, narrative, poem that has rhyme, rhythm, and a refrain. In the process, I wrote this poem, inspired by Bridgit and Anne!! It is a little bit like a ballad and I love that it has recorded for me the best part of being a mom, getting to read-aloud so many stories filled with so many great characters to my two favorite readers.

My daughters, at 4 and 1

Licked their cone of ice cream

Listening to me read The Tweedle Beedle Battle

And the adventures of Spot, Sally, Sam with Helen and Steve

While taking turns to open the flaps.

The clock chimed eight and

I said good night,

sleep tight,

and turned out the light.

Once they turn 6 and 3

They spooned their jello

As I read everything by Donald Crews

We rode the train, plane, boat, bike, and carousel.

Then listened to the troubles of Arthur and DW.

The clock chimed eight and

I said good night,

sleep tight,

and turned out the light.

Soon both could read at 8 and 5

Yet, they still listened, munching on popcorn

As I read of Elmer on Wild Island

And we met Samantha, Molly, and Josephina

Living in another time.

The clock chimed eight and

I said good night,

sleep tight,

and turned out the light.

By the ages of 10 and 7

We met Ms. Jewels, Louis

and the 28 students in that tall, tall school.

Also Anastasia and her funny brother, Sam.

The clock chimed eight and

I said good night,

sleep tight,

and turned out the light.

Time flew by, and suddenly they were 12 and 9.

They made the cookies we all munched on

As I read-aloud the adventures of their newest friends:

Harry, Ron, and Herminone.

The clock chimed eight and

I said good night,

sleep tight,

and turned out the light.

Now, they are 23 and 20.

 The clock chimes 2:00am.

I’ve been asleep for hours

Closing my eyes after finishing a chapter of my newest read.

Bridgit tweets the latest Obama for America news of the day.

Anne posts a video to her facebook wall and grabs a play to read.

Then lights out….

Good night, great readers, sleep tight.

By Mrs. Donnelly, April 2012