The Terrible Dream

It was the middle of the night, just one year ago,
I woke up terrified and started to cry --
A strange voice had spoken to me in a dream:
"Your grandmother's going to die."
I felt awful all day, and then that night the phone rang,
Mom got it, and then, weeping, she said,
"That was your Aunt Sara. There's terrible news:
"Your dear old grandmother is dead."

Six months or so later, I woke again in the night,
So shaken that I had to cry.
That same, strange voice had spoken again:
"Your grandfather's going to die."
Distressed and bewildered, I stumbled through the day.
At night, the phone rang, and Mom said,
"Brace yourselves, children, that was your Uncle Mike.
"Your dear, sweet grandfather is dead."

Oh, what does it all mean? Who can explain it?
What's this gift that's so much more a curse?
It's all such a terrible burden to bear--
How could my life get any worse?
I hardly can get any sleep anymore,
I'm so shaken with worry and fear
Of the chance that I'll hear it, that voice in the night
Whisp'ring terrible news in my ear.

Then last week again I woke up in the night,
And my tears were pouring like rain.
That awful, strange voice with its terrible news
Had shattered my dreams once again.
I couldn't believe it! Oh, what would I do?
I shook my head, helpless, and cried.
The horrible voice had spoken again:
"Your father is going to die."

"What's the matter?" said Dad when I hugged him that morning,
But I could only stare at the floor.
I was aching with sorrow all through my school day,
And when I came home, Dad opened the door.
He said, "Son, it's your mother--she's had a bad shock,
"And she's taken it awfully hard.
"This morning the milkman had a heart attack,
"And he died right here in our front yard."

Oh, what does it all mean? Who can explain it?
What's this gift that's so much more a curse?
It's all such a terrible burden to bear--
How could my life get any worse?
I hardly can get any sleep anymore,
I'm so shaken with worry and fear
Of the chance that I'll hear it, that voice in the night
Whisp'ring terrible news in my ear.