Bivouac ©

“Mama, are there playgrounds in heaven?
Merry-go-rounds, see-saws, swings?
Are there ice lollies? Clownfishes and mollies?
Or butterflies with colourful wings?

Remember , I told you last birthday
I wanted that pink dress in the mall?
Don’t buy it at all, it’s way too small
To last even till this year’s fall.

I know, there’s no Santa Claus;
It was you who dressed up every year,
Rolling and rocking, filling my Christmas stocking,
Watching my face light up with cheer.

I’m feeling sleepy, my eyes are closing,
But I want to say Thanks to you.
For those dresses and dolls, colouring books at the mall,
For those marbles of every colour and hue”.

She listened to her daughter silently
Witnessing the fateful sight.
She was way too far from bold, to believe her six year old
Would not make it through the night.

“Papa’s waiting up there, there’s loads of work to do.
I’ll have to recite to him my latest rhyme
Then we’ll decorate the home up there and wait for you…”
So saying, she closed her eyes for the last time.