Do not open
The bedtime book,
Do not peep,
Do not look.

Lock it up
Out of sight,
Keep it hidden
Every night.

If you think
To look inside,
You will soon
Run and hide.

Please be wary,
This is scary.
You won’t see
A single fairy.

You won’t see
A teddy bear
Unless it’s only
There to scare.

So throw it out
Throw it far
Cover it
In sticky tar.

For if you look
Beyond this page
Your hair will grey
And you will age.

And each and every
Word you hear
Will be followed
By a tear.

You’ll find things
You’d rather not,
And these might make
You cry a lot.

But do not worry,
Do not fret.
I’m sure you’ll sleep,
In fact I’ll bet

That if you close
Your eyes right now,
And let your head
Gently bow,

You might be spared
The awful sight…
Oh never mind,
I’ll say goodnight.

—

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Illustration courtesy and copyright of Jools Wilson. Follow her on Twitter. See her website.