Missing - on Bonfire Night

Where d'you go on bonfire night? 

You gave us such a dreadful fright.

You should've been here, safe at home.

What a night to choose to roam!

The fireworks banged and lit the sky.

Next door's bonfire burned so high.

We searched and shouted, called your name,

felt so anxious, felt to blame.

We looked in all your favourite places -

under trees, in hidden spaces,

Under cars I shone my torch,

stood and shouted from the porch.

What if you'd been spooked, and run -

then forgot which way you'd come?

You'd be lost, alone and scared,

thinking no-one even cared.

The night wore on, we worried more,

but then at last we looked and saw

no more flashes, no more flames.

The cat-flap rattled - in you came -

demanding dinner, cuddles, bed.

'But tell us where you hid!' we said.

You turned away and curled up small

and slept, just not concerned at all.

But we'd had such a dreadful fright.

Where DID you go on bonfire night?

Copyright Sheila Norton 2025