stories my mom would tell,

each night before i fell

into deep and dreamless slumber

those nights I’d always remember.

protagonists in her invented stories

characters i imagined to be me,

antagonists created in her memory

dubious characters acted in Barbary.

scenes in climax made me shiver

my fragile body and soul quiver

she’d twist her story suddenly

and put it into euphoric allegory.

finally tired body would surrender

her warmth caress, her smell of lavender

her sweet voice puts no alibi

your senses succumbed in her lullaby.