The prompt was to write about a favourite childhood toy, and to end each line in “ing”.

Elephant, Singing

My favourite cuddle toy was not the usual thing,
when I was small,  I held close an elephant that could sing

He only knew a simple tune, a lullaby to wing
me off to sleep and every night he sang his offering
his gentle  notes of sleepytime, his music sending
me to the land of Nod, the land of childhood dreaming.

My elephant came at Christmas in December 19something
his fur was white, his ears were red, a ribbon tying
round his neck. One day when Mum was washing
sweaters, my elephant tumbled in, red running

through the wash colouring everything.
From then on he was pink, and I?  Explaining
why a child so small  knew pink elephants, not the usual thing.
He’s gone now, I don’t know where, but I’m still remembering.

Carol A. Stephen
April 9, 2018