Five siblings inherit a blanket. They lie beneath it, together, to stay warm.
          But arms and legs stick out and the siblings squabble and tug. They do
          not realize that they would all fit if they just moved closer together.

This is the Blanket Story. Poets, artists, and musicians have responded to this tale in creative ways. All poems appear here, our ONLINE POETRY SHOWCASE. Visit our main page to find out more about the project.

Nicole Callihan

The Prayer

Midwinter, and I tuck my daughter in.
It’s been dark for hours. She asks for a prayer.
I recite the only one I know, one I read in a book
In the months before she was born.
Dear Lord, I say, and she says it with me.
It seems the least I can do:
Give her something to believe in.
Outside the window, the moon is a tossed quarter.
Eva asks for water, for a kiss. Finally, a blanket.
By morning, she will have kicked it to the floor.