When I was a Child of four of five,
At night, my toys would come alive.
They would play in the night where no one could see,
and no one one ever saw except for me.
I never told  Mama or anyone I knew,
The only one I've ever told, my child, is you.

I would watch my toys and I would take great pains,
Not to move or alarm them and spoil their games.
I would stay and keep still and quiet as a mouse,
Even when the noise would have woken the house.
And why I was tired at brunch I could never explain,
So the nurse thought i’d been up all night, playing a game.

The toys, that thought no one was about,
would jump and play and laugh and shout.
My tumblers would tumble and wallop around,
My toy soldiers would march in straight rows on the ground.
My dolls would gossip while they had tea,
My teddy's would play tag in groups of three.

My baby dolls would laugh and chortle,
My drums would drum and my rattles would rattle.
I had toys for girls and toys for boys,
But being a tomboy, toys were toys.
I had porcelain dolls, and wooden dolls and Russian nesting dolls,
And a China princess who sat on the mantle and ruled them all.

I’d sit and watch them with big blue eyes,
And why they were moving didn't occur as a surprise.
Than one day I grew up and went away,
And seven years later came back to stay.
And the only part of growing up I’ll ever regret,
Is my toys are as lifeless as an old marionette.