The child inside me

The child inside me doesn’t want 

to fall asleep 

In vain 

I tell him bedtime stories 

frighten him 

with the bogeyman

I cuddle him 

soothingly 

and tuck the blanket 

up under his chin

nights go by

days 

years 

yet still 

the child inside me doesn’t want 

to fall asleep

perhaps he is afraid 

he might never 

wake up

Translated by Angela Rodel and Hristo Dimitrov