There's a Ladybug in My Bed
The following poem is about a ladybug who takes a little girl on a dream filled journey to a magical town of ladybugs. One, who is charmingly eccentric, dazzles you with her exceptionally fashionable clothes while one owns a bakery and can make the most exquisite pastries ...still another has a house with so many stairs that you lose count. With coordination and grace, one can be seen riding a unicycle while another one rides a tricolored tricycle. There's a ladybug who scoots around in a sporty car...why there's even an opera star, yet another who claims he's been to Alpha Centauri and Mars! But no town would be complete without a Mayor who loves to orate in the town square about new plans for Ladybugville which make all the ladybugs ever so happy!
There's A Ladybug In My Bed
There's a ladybug in my bed,
painted on a pillow case beside my head.
I see her black spotted and red
with a little mischievous grin,
and a tiny dimple on her chin.
When I fall fast asleep,
I could swear she comes alive
and holding onto my hand,
together, we fly to a wondrous place far away
where ladybugs live and play.
There's a ladybug who has a house
with so many stairs that I lose count.
Another whose taken such care
in the selection of her fashionable clothes
that I've ever seen anyone wear!
Then there's one who owns a bakery
who makes strawberry tarts
with the most delicate puff pastry;
they can only be described as scrumptuously tasty.
Why, there's even a town square
with a banner hanging over the rostrum;
to a crowd still gathering...
a microphone squeaks,
suddenly, the Mayor begins to speak.
One can see his distinguished figure
with his stove top hat towering above the rest-
in tuxedo he is dressed.
As he speaks about the plans for the new year
there is a slight pause...
before the ladybugs breakout with thunderous applause.
There's a ladybug who drives a sporty car.
One who even chauffeurs, with Rolls Royce, an opera star.
With coordination and grace, another ladybug rides a unicycle
while a very little one can be seen riding a tricolored tricycle.
But the one that captures my imagination by far...
is the one who insists he's been to Mars
and Proxima Centauri, the sun's closest star!
The next morning I wake to find
myself back in my cozy bed
with the little ladybug painted on a pillowcase
beside my head.
Lying perfectly still,
just as the ladybug prints on my quilt,
I say to my little friend, "why...
I think I see a twinkle in your eye."
-Lora Hollings
© 2020 Lora Hollings
Comments
AUTHORAnupam, I'm delighted to hear that your daughter enjoyed my poem about the town of ladybugs and the illustrations. I really appreciate you sharing this with me! You are fortunate to be able to have these times of togetherness with your little girl. It seems that they grow up too fast. Enjoy these beautiful years! Thanks much, my friend.
- AUTHOR
It's always good to hear from you, Jason. I'm glad you enjoyed the trip to ladybug town. I certainly agree with you that ladybugs seem to be naturally fashionable. Thanks for your visit and wonderful compliment! Best to you and your family.
Finally read the poem to my little daughter and she loved this a lot. Especially the pictures drawn by you.
Super cute Lora. I really enjoyed this. What a fun adventure. I'd love to go to ladybug town. It sounds awesome! It makes sense that the ladybugs are in-to fashion. After all, polka-dots never go out of style. Plus I can just imagine how great some of those strawberry tarts would taste. Mmm yummy. You have a real unique drawing style that I think is really wonderful. Great work!
- AUTHOR
Anupam, thanks much for your visit and your gracious comment. I'm delighted to hear that you are going to read this poem to your daughter. I'm glad that you enjoyed the illustrations as well. Best wishes to you and your daughter!
I loved your dream, and this community of beautiful ladybugs. They were all amazing in their extraordinary attire.
Lots of love
I will read this to my daughter.
She too will love your pics.
- AUTHOR
Brenda, you made my day. I'm deeply honored that you like my work so much that you want to share it with others. Bless you, my friend!
- AUTHOR
Layne, thanks much for reading and for your kind words. I hope that many children will enjoy going on a journey to the enchanting town of ladybugs. Best wishes to you!
I love all of your work, but this one is my favorite.
I love your artwork too.
You are very talented.
I shared this one here.
This is very creative, Lora, great for a children's book.
- AUTHOR
Alyssa, thanks much for your visit and I'm deeply complimented by your comment. I'm so happy that you enjoyed the poem and the illustrations too! They are quite a diverse bunch of characters. Like you, I think the ladybug with the haute couture might be my favorite too. Thanks much for following this series and have a great day, my friend!
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What a fantastical adventure, Lora! I think Fashionista ladybug was my favorite. The illustrations pair perfectly with your poem, bringing the ladybugs to life and adding a sense of whimsy and fun. I hope there will be more visits to Ladybugville in the future! :) I love this series!
Lora,
You are quite welcome.
You are very talented.
Take care.
- AUTHOR
Brenda, thank you for reading and for your generous comment. I'm deeply honored by your enthusiasm for my work. Yes, I did the illustrations and I thoroughly enjoyed getting in touch with this side of myself again! I think we can travel to many places using our imaginations. I appreciate your lovely compliment. Stay well and have a great day, my friend!
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Dora, it's always nice to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by and your kind words are greatly appreciated. Have a wonderful week, my friend!
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Chitrangada, thanks much for your visit and I'm glad that my poem reminded you of some cherished memories spent with your children reading fairy tales to them. I really appreciate your generous and thoughtful comment. Best to you!
- AUTHOR
Always good to hear from you, Flourish. Thanks for your beautiful compliment. It's good to stay young at heart! Have an awesome week.
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It's nice to meet you, Laurie. I appreciate you commenting on my article. So happy to hear that you enjoyed my poem and my artwork too. I have heard that seeing a ladybug brings good luck. Have a great week!
Lora,
This one is so fantastic!
You have quite the imagination to go from a pillowcase to this adventurous poem.
This one will be a hit.
Did you do the drawings that accompany this poem?
They are excellent.
Thanks for sharing.
- AUTHOR
Nithya, so good to hear from you. Thanks for reading and for your lovely comment. As a child, I was always in awe of them, too, and felt I was blessed when I would see them on my mother's roses. Best wishes, always.
- AUTHOR
Nice to hear from you, Joi. Thanks for your comment. Have a nice day!
- AUTHOR
Marie, thanks much for reading and for your wonderful comment. I'm familiar with the ladybug book that you're talking about. We should all be kind to ladybugs as they are a natural way of controlling insect pests like aphids and are beneficial to our gardens and farms. I'm happy to hear that you really enjoyed the poem and its illustrations. Best to you!
- AUTHOR
Thanks much Liz for your visit and for commenting. It's always good to hear from you.
I'm glad you enjoyed this little girl's adventure to a town filled with exceptional ladybugs. Have a great Sunday!
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I think I would have had a peaceful night's rest in a dream like this. So creative and refreshing. Classical!
I had a 'real' ladybug in my bed a week ago! For real! This is just delightful, I love it. The drawings are fabulous, too! Good job!
A delightful poem and lovely artwork, I enjoyed reading, and as I read, I was taken back to my childhood days when I was in awe of ladybugs.
I love the color of ladybug.
Good morning, Lora! You're artwork is absolutely charming.
I have a picture of my little granddaughter wearing her costume ladybug wings. Unfortunately, I can't post it here.
I remember reading a book as a child about a ladybug's reaction to some children (or was it one child?) telling her the old children's chant, "Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home. You're house is on fire and your children will burn." The ladybug flew home only to discover the children had lied. She was one angry little ladybug, returned to the children, and lectured them about how it wasn't nice to lie. Moral of the story: Be kind to ladybugs.
Of course, I appreciate ladybugs in my garden; they help keep leaf-eating pests in line.
Keep writing and let that imagination soar!
- AUTHOR
Mary, thanks much for dropping by and your comment certainly made my day a brighter one! I'm so happy to hear that you found my work to be inspiring! Have a beautiful Sunday!
- AUTHOR
Nice to hear from you, Bill. Thanks much for reading and happy to hear that you found this to be an enjoyable journey with ladybug characters. Take care and have a good one!
- AUTHOR
Hi Ruby, it's good to hear from you. Yes, I did the illustrations but I didn't use paint. I used colored pencil. I haven't seen a ladybug yet this spring or summer, either. When I was a child, I would see them all the time and now, it's a rare occasion if I come across one! Thank you for reading and for your gracious comment. Take care, my friend.
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Pamela, it's always nice to hear from you. Thanks so much for your kind compliment. It certainly would be fun to visit a town like this in a dream. Take care and have a lovely Sunday!
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Greg, thanks much for reading my poem and I'm delighted to hear that you want to share it with your grandsons. I'm so glad that you liked my work and I appreciate your wonderful comment. Have a great Sunday!
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Lorna, it's always nice to hear from you! Thank you for the kind words and I hope to do a book one day of ladybug poetry. There's quite a few more poems I've written that I need to do more illustrations for. But I find creating the pictures brings much enjoyment. Have a great Sunday and thanks so much for your visit!
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Ann, thanks so much for your visit and I'm very complimented by your comment. Ladybugs or ladybirds as you call them in Britain seem to be quite popular with everyone, especially children. I find drawing and painting is a great way to relax and have much fun. Best to you!
What a whimsical and creative journey into the ladybug word. You have a little girl’s magical heart.
Lovely poem and lovely sketches. Took me back in time, when I was reading fairy tales, to my children. And, how they painted a beautiful and colourful World, full of possibilities.
Thank you for sharing this lovely poem.
- AUTHOR
So glad that you enjoyed my poem and the ladybug characters, Rosina. And thank you for dropping by and your comment is certainly appreciated. I agree with you that my favorite might be the one who claims to have been to Proxima Centauri and Mars. What a trip!
This is a lovely poem that transports us with the little girl on her travels. I especially appreciated the illustrations.
I love ladybugs and your drawings are wonderful. Your work is inspiring to read. Thank you for sharing.
A lovely, whimsical journey involving my all-time favorite insect. Bravo, my friend. I thoroughly enjoyed this journey.
This is so clever and full of imagination. The imagery is beautiful. I must ask, did you paint the pictures? I love ladybugs. I haven't seen one yet this summer. Thank you for taking us on a journey with the ladybugs.
This poem and all the drawing are absolutely adorable. The little girl's dream filled sleep took her on a wonderful adventure. Lora, you are so talented!
Lora - oh, I do love this. I want very much to read and show it to my grandson(s) when I finally get to see them again. The artwork is perfect, the story is a most excellent journey told in the careful crafting of phrase and verse. Nicely done, Lora. Quite enjoyable.
Such an imaginative piece Lora and I could see this as a children's book that adults would also enjoy. Your drawings are so endearing bringing the poem to life. A wonderful dream filled journey which I enjoyed being part of. Beautifully told.
Absolutely charming, Lora! Any child, and adult, would love these verses and I'm guessing there are many children who enjoy reading these along with the superb illustrations. Ladybugs (or ladybirds as we call them in Britain) are always fascinating to children so this is bound to please. You have captured a sense of fun too.
Ann
Hi Lora, Your imagination is so lively and vivid and certainly praiseworthy. I loved the town of ladybirds where the the little girl in her dream is taken. So many ladybirds with their own unique characteristics make the poem full of fun and learning. My choice of fave ladybird is the same as the little girl, who claims to have been to Mars and Proxima Centauri. Thank you for sharing such a creative poem.
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