Larger Lullaby

Red Lullaby
(for Andy Croft)

Hush little baby, don’t feel worse,
Momma’s going to buy you a talking horse,
a talking horse that wants to fly
and never tells a single lie.
The horse’s mane is blow-torch white
to keep your crib aflame by night,
the horse’s saddle strawberry red
to match the eyelids on your head,
the horse’s hooves are made of steel
to keep your bedroom cold and real.
And if this truthful horse won’t fly,
we’ll bake its guts in humble pie;
and if this talking beast won’t speak,
we’ll dine on steak for half a week.