The Courage Box

Mr. Bear is a little afraid at night,

just after mom switches off the light,

he quietly tells me: “stay up with me, please”

(I’m not afraid, but Mr. Bear is…).

I tell him: “Don’t worry. Everything is alright”,

but Mr. Bear clings to me and holds me so tight!

“It’s dark and I’m scared, don’t leave me… please!”

(I’m not afraid, but Mr. Bear is…).

“There’s nothing to fear, go to sleep Mr. Bear”,

 “yes, there is- can’t you see it? It’s right over there!”

So I reach for my little torch on the shelf-

(Mr. Bear is so scared, but I’m not scared myself!)

Oh, now I can see it, it’s near the chair.

The big hairy monster is standing there.

It has so many teeth! And they look so shiny!

I have to protect Mr. Bear- he’s so tiny!

My dear Mr. Bear, don’t you worry now!

I’ll save us both (though I still don’t know how…).

Mr. Bear looks puzzled, and I’m confused too.

We hide under the covers, unsure what to do.

“Is it gone already?”, he asks me with fear,

I take a quick peek- “oh, no, it’s still here.”

……

I don’t know what to do now, don’t know what I should,

I must think of a plan, and it’d better be good!

And then I remember what my mother said

a few days ago, when I went to bed.

She said: “whenever something scary comes by,

take out your “courage box”…

                                                …Well, let’s give it a try!

I open the drawer beside my bed,

the “courage box” is waiting there, painted in red

I take it out- will it make me stronger?

Will I beat the monster, or will it stay for much longer?

I open the box, as carefully as I can,

and out comes… a big hat…

                                            and a little man!

“I’m Mr. Braveheart, nice to meet you, my dear.

Whenever you need me- I will be here.”

“but how can you help? you look so small,

and the monster is so big, it’s bigger than us all!”

Mr. Braveheart laughs, “well, it looks that way,

But I’m an expert in this, so just do what I say.”

“Now- close your eyes, and breathe deeply, one, two, three.

With every breath you take, you feel lighter and free.

Now, let your heart fill with light, and let it shine.

Smile from within… you’re doing just fine.

Now just keep breathing, nice and slow, one, two, three

Feel the light in your heart, and just listen to me:

Here’s the thing about monsters- when fear goes away,

They have to go too, they just cannot stay.

So all you have to do now is breathe slowly and smile,

It will all be over in a little while…”

My heart is full of light, just like Mr. Braveheart said,

I’m getting stronger and braver, and I’m not afraid.

“Now you can open your eyes, one, two, three”

I look at Mr. Bear, and he looks back at me.

I look at the room, I look all around,

The monster is gone, it cannot be found!

Mr. Braveheart smiles at us- “see, that was easy!

My work here is done, I must go now, I’m busy…

You can open the courage box whenever you need,

and I’ll come to help you, just like I did…”

And into the red courage box he goes,

I feel calm and sleepy, from my head to my toes…

I put my courage box back in the drawer,

I hug Mr. Bear. He’s not afraid anymore…