Spring Fling Kidlit Writing Contest

Crickets Sing Me to Sleep

By Elizabeth Voss

Goodnight, Sweetheart," says Mom. She bends to kiss my head.

But I’m not sleepy yet; I peek outside instead.

 

Blink-BLINK-blink-BLINK-blink-BLINK.

The fireflies’ lights flick on.

And off and on and off. They’re lighting up the lawn.

 

Flit-FLIT-flit-FLIT-flit-FLIT.

Moths dance in beams of light.

They spin in dizzy rings to celebrate the night.

 

I’m getting kind of sleepy – I lie back down.

I close my eyes and listen; night is full of sounds.

 

Vroom-VROOM-vroom-VROOM-vroom-VROOM.

A car goes rumbling by.

Bump-BUMPing on the road, then fading like a sigh.

 

Croak-CROAK-croak-CROAK-croak-CROAK.

The toads cry out a song.

They raise their voices in a happy sing-along.

 

RiBBIT-riBBIT-riBBIT, the frogs are chanting too.

They cluck and whistle: it’s a hullabaloo.

 

Creee-CREEE-creee-CREEE-creee-CREEE.

Crickets sing me to sleep.

Creee-CREEE-creee-CREEE-creee-CREEE. They’re lulling me so deep.

 

Purr-PURR-purr-PURR-purr-PURR.

It’s Sylvie, sweetest pea.

She crawls along my legs and snuggles next to me.

 

Zzzzzzzzzz...