Sleep, A Mother's Lament (Part Two)

By Beth Fallin Smilack

There once was a mom who was tired

With insomnia constantly mired

“I need water,” he’d state

And in constant debate

She would fight with the child she had sired

 

Not so long there’s a day soon a’coming

When the noise in her head will cease drumming

For her boy will be gone

And she’ll sleep the night long

Tho’ her nose will be constantly running

 

When her son off to college he scatters

And her heart falls to pieces and shatters

It is then that she’ll know

Her boy wasn’t her foe

He’s here now and that’s what truly matters

 

So dear mothers don’t fret when not sleeping

Just ignore car behind that is beeping

Bubble gum in your hair

He won’t stay in his chair

But your heart with true love it is leaping

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Rabbit Stew
(a whimsical children's poem)
by Beth Fallin Smilack

There once was a rabbit who lived in a stew
He loved eating carrots, as most rabbits do.

One day Mr. Owl came by for a visit,
"Mr. Rabbit," he said, "that's not stew you're in, is it?"

"Why yes," Mr. Rabbit exclaimed with glee,
"Just look at the carrots, potatoes and peas.

Eating all of these veggies has made me quite strong
and my eyesight's improved, I can see a mile long!"

Mr. Owl thought a moment about Rabbit's stew
and told him there's something that he ought to do.

"Mr. Rabbit," the owl said, "there's something quite wrong.
If you stay in that stew, you'll be cooked before long!

Perhaps you should try moving somewhere that's nice,
like a cave or a house, tho' the house might have mice."

So they both tried to think, it was so hard to tell,
where the rabbit could sleep and still eat so well.

"I've got it," the Owl said, "it's perfect, you'll see.
You can plant your own garden and live there for free.

You can plant lots of seeds and grow carrots and peas
and all kinds of veggies, as much as you please!"

And so Rabbit moved to his garden so new
and Owl liked it so well, that he moved there too!

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A Poem to My Unborn Child
by Beth Fallin Smilack (written soon after I discovered I was pregnant)

From the very first twinkle in my hopeful eye
When the test read "positive" and I breathed a quite sigh
To my first doctor's appointment when they verified 'twas true
That's when my growing love began, my unborn child, for you

I'd thought for many years before that I could not conceive
So when I felt you grow in me, I barely could believe

And now that you are months away from entering this world
I wanted you to know, my darling boy, or precious girl,
That I and Daddy promise you until our dying day
To love, protect and care for you and guide you on your way

I say a prayer most every day and thank the Lord above
For giving me this wondrous gift, a Child for me to love.