Fledgling

Do you remember the night

I held your hand

brushed your tears away

chased the monster from

under your bed

it had yellow teeth

purple spots on green skin

the longest claws ever seen

eyes like fish bowls

you’d drawn it in school

and made it real,

given it a home

where it kept you awake

in the early hours I was your

knight in shining armour

the bravest person you knew

you held me close told me

you’d never let me go.

Today the bed is gone,

you’ve moved out to start

your new life, an adult

I’ve shed a little tear

but know that I am near

should that scary monster

ever reappear.

Niamh