Page 11 - English Expedition Class 2

1 Bedtime

When do you usually go to bed? Do you like your bedtime or do you find it a little early or
late? The speaker of this poem asks for a few more minutes before going to bed. Read on to
find out why.

Five minutes, five minutes more, please!

Let me stay five minutes more!

Can’t I just finish the castle

I’m building here on the floor?

Can’t I just finish the story

I’m reading here in my book?

1
Can’t I just finish this bead-chain –
It almost is finished, look!

Can’t I just finish this game, please?

When a game’s once begun

2
It’s a pity never to find out

Whether you’ve lost or won.

Can’t I just stay five minutes?

Well, can’t I just stay just four?

Three minutes, then? Two minutes?

Can’t I stay one minute more?

Eleanor Farjeon

1 bead-chain: a thread of beads 2 pity: reason for disappointment
1