The Sleepy Donkey: A Soothing Bedtime Story

This is a Calming, Sleepy Story, written and narrated by me. Tonight, we’ll visit a field where a sleepy donkey rests beneath the shade of a tree. We will explore this peaceful meadow, meet the gentle, sleepy donkey who loves his quiet naps, and listen to the sounds of nature while the breeze whispers through the tall grass.

Narration and Sound Design by Stephen Dalton

Transcript

Hello,

My friend.

Welcome to your sleep story.

My name is Stephen Dalton.

I'm an Irish storyteller,

And it's my great privilege to be the voice that you listen to as you go to sleep tonight.

Tonight's story is one that I really enjoyed writing.

It's about one of my favorite animals,

A donkey.

This donkey is a sleepy donkey,

And he's a bit of a lonely donkey.

But there might just be hope for this donkey to get some company.

See if you can keep listening to find out what happens,

Or listen again tomorrow night from where you fell asleep.

Okay,

Let's do the relaxation session now,

Which will take a few minutes,

Before tonight's sleep story.

I'm going to count down from ten to one,

And as I do,

Allow yourself to let go more and more.

Ten.

Feel the support of the bed beneath you,

Or the floor,

Or whatever you lie upon tonight.

But beneath all of that,

Feel the earth.

The earth that is always supporting you,

Always there for you.

Our home.

And as you become aware of that constant support,

See if it allows you to let go a little bit more now.

To ease into this moment a little bit more now.

You are safe.

You are okay.

And in this feeling of safety,

In this place of comfort,

Allow my voice to be an anchor of safety tonight.

Know that my voice will only ever take you to safe places,

To safe destinations,

To a safe refuge of deep sleep.

Eight.

Feel into your body now.

Just notice anything.

That's all you need to do.

Maybe it's a tingling.

Maybe it's a slight pain.

Whatever it is,

Just notice.

Maybe it's in your feet.

Maybe in your legs.

Maybe your belly.

Your chest.

Or your face.

And as you notice whatever you notice,

See if you are holding anywhere.

And if you are,

Just let go a little bit more now.

Seven.

The day is done.

Whatever has been,

Has been.

Whatever will be,

Will be.

But right now,

In this moment,

You don't need to think about the past or the future.

Allow yourself the luxury of embracing this very moment.

And,

Of course,

Thoughts will arrive.

And as they do,

Don't fight them.

Know that they are a part of being a human being.

Just see them for what they are.

Thoughts.

And watch them go like leaves on a moonlit river or clouds passing in a starlit sky.

Six.

This is your time.

This is your moment.

Nobody else's.

When we give ourselves time.

When we allow peace to be a part of our experience of life.

So,

Allow yourself to let go.

To be kind to yourself.

Seven.

To know that you deserve this moment.

And this opportunity of rest.

Peace lives within you.

It's just waiting to be found.

Eight.

See if you can find it tonight.

And if you do,

Where does it live?

In your heart?

In your head?

Nine.

Have a look for it and notice if you can sense it.

Four.

Perhaps allow a little gratitude now.

Gratitude for the simple things.

The shelter you have tonight.

The peace of this moment.

The opportunity of rest.

Three.

Begin to engage with your imagination now.

Begin to see a beautiful field with some trees in it on a lovely,

Calm day.

And just there in the distance is a sleeping donkey,

Happily dreaming away.

Two.

Feel into your body one more time now.

And just let go of any residual tension.

Or anything you're holding onto.

Your body has worked hard for you today.

It deserves rest.

One.

Completely letting go now.

As I tell you tonight's sleep story.

There once was a donkey.

A very sleepy donkey.

Now,

Some might say that this donkey was the sleepiest donkey that was ever known.

Some might say,

Maybe,

Just maybe,

He was also a little bit lonely.

One thing that was good,

Though,

Is that he felt very safe in his field.

And he quite liked the man and the woman,

The two humans who would come to feed him every day.

But apart from that,

He just liked to sleep.

The donkey lived in a wide,

Open field that stretched out in all directions.

With tall,

Soft grass that swayed gently in the breeze.

It was a peaceful place.

Quiet,

Except for the occasional rustling of the trees at the edge of the field.

Or the distant chirping of birds.

The sun rose high in the sky each morning,

Bathing the field in a gentle warmth.

And the donkey liked nothing more than to find a nice spot in the shade of a tree,

Close his eyes,

And drift off to sleep.

His coat was soft,

A mix of gray and brown,

And it shimmered faintly under the sunlight.

His large,

Floppy ears twitched now and then,

But otherwise,

He barely moved.

He loved the way the grass felt under his hooves.

The earth,

Soft and cool.

The kind of ground that made sleeping feel even better.

Sometimes,

He would lay down completely,

His legs folding beneath him.

And he would stay like that for hours,

Dozing in and out of sleep,

As the day passed quietly by.

The humans who took care of him were kind.

The man had a gentle voice,

And the woman often hummed softly as she placed the hay in his trough.

The donkey didn't need much,

Just enough food to nibble on before he settled back into his favorite pastime.

He didn't even mind being alone most of the time.

In fact,

It suited him.

There was no need for excitement or noise.

He liked the quiet.

It gave him more time to sleep.

But every now and then,

As he dozed beneath his favorite tree,

He would open his eyes just a little and glance around the empty field.

He would listen to the breeze,

And for a brief moment,

He would wonder what it might be like to have a friend there beside him.

Not for conversation or play.

No,

That would be far too much for a sleepy donkey.

But,

Just someone to sit quietly with.

Someone to doze alongside.

Feeling the same safe,

Peaceful comfort that he did.

And then,

Before the thought could linger too long,

His eyes would close again,

And he'd drift back into a gentle sleep,

The grass swaying softly around him.

One quiet morning,

As the sleepy donkey rested beneath his favorite tree,

A soft fluttering sound came from above.

At first,

The donkey didn't pay much attention.

He was half asleep,

As usual,

And the gentle breeze was coaxing him into one of his many naps.

But the fluttering grew closer,

And soon,

He felt the soft rustling of feathers just beside him.

Opening one eye lazily,

The donkey saw a small bird perched on a low branch of the tree,

Tilting its head curiously at him.

It was a delicate creature,

With feathers that shimmered like the sky at dawn,

A soft blend of blues and whites.

The bird chirped quietly,

As if introducing itself.

Hello,

Sleepy donkey,

The bird said.

The donkey blinked slowly,

Not used to such company.

Hello,

The donkey replied.

What brings you here?

I'm resting,

The bird said,

Hopping a little closer on the branch.

I've been flying a long way.

It's nice to stop for a while,

Especially in such a peaceful field.

The donkey nodded slightly,

Appreciating the bird's company.

It was nice to have someone nearby,

Even if he didn't feel much like talking.

He wasn't lonely all the time,

But moments like these made him realize how quiet his field could be.

For a little while,

The two sat in silence.

The donkey closed his eyes again,

Letting the soft sound of the bird's gentle chirps lull him into a state of comfort.

It was a peaceful moment,

One where the world felt perfectly balanced.

I think I could stay here forever,

The donkey murmured,

Half to himself.

The bird fluttered its wings lightly,

Settling in for a brief rest.

I wish I could stay,

Too,

The bird said softly,

But I'm on a journey.

I'm flying far,

Far away.

I'm following the warm winds and the changing seasons.

The donkey opened his eyes again,

Feeling a little pang of sadness.

You have to leave,

The bird nodded.

Yes,

Soon.

I have many miles to go before the skies grow cold.

But,

It's been nice sharing this moment with you,

The donkey sighed quietly.

His ears drooping just a little.

It's been nice for me,

Too,

He said,

His voice slow and gentle.

I don't get many visitors.

The bird chirped once more,

A soft and comforting sound.

I'll think of you while I fly,

It said.

You're lucky to have such a peaceful place to sleep.

I'll remember this field when I rest under different skies.

With that,

The bird flapped its wings,

Rising into the air,

Circling above the donkey once before heading toward the horizon.

The donkey watched it go,

His large eyes blinking slowly as the little figure disappeared into the sky.

For a while,

The field felt emptier than usual.

The donkey shifted,

Laying his head down on the cool grass.

He sighed deeply,

Feeling the quiet settle back over him like a blanket.

It had been nice to have a companion,

Even if only for a little while.

But now,

The bird was gone,

And he was alone once more.

The field swayed gently in the breeze,

And after a moment,

The donkey's eyes grew heavy again.

He closed them,

Listening to the soft rustle of the grass.

And let himself drift back into sleep.

On another day,

As the donkey rested under the same old tree,

The sound of soft rustling caught his attention again.

At first,

He thought it might be the breeze in the grass.

But then,

Just beyond his hooves,

A small,

Quick creature darted into view.

A little squirrel with a bushy tail and bright,

Twitching eyes was scumpering about near the base of the tree,

Gathering small bits and pieces from the ground.

The donkey,

Barely lifting his head,

Blinked slowly and watched as the squirrel busily hopped closer,

Its tiny paws working fast to collect acorns and tuck them away.

The donkey sighed softly,

Too sleepy to move,

But curious enough to offer a quiet greeting.

Hello,

The donkey rumbled,

His voice as slow and steady as ever.

The squirrel paused,

Its ears twitching at the sound,

And turned to face the donkey with a wide-eyed expression.

Oh,

Hello there,

The squirrel replied,

Its voice bright and full of energy,

The complete opposite of the donkey's slow,

Drowsy tone.

What are you doing?

Asked the donkey,

His eyelids already growing heavy again.

I'm gathering food,

The squirrel said,

Hopping a little closer.

Winter is coming soon,

And I need to make sure I have enough stored away when it gets cold,

You see.

I'll be hibernating soon.

The donkey's ears twitched at the word,

His gaze drifting toward the sky.

Hibernating?

He repeated,

The word unfamiliar on his tongue.

That means you'll be sleeping,

Too?

The squirrel nodded enthusiastically.

Oh,

Yes,

But for a long,

Long time,

I'll sleep through most of the winter,

All tucked away in my little nest.

The donkey felt a small flicker of excitement at the thought of someone else who enjoyed sleeping as much as he did.

That sounds nice,

He said quietly,

His voice warm with approval.

I sleep a lot,

Too.

This field is perfect for it.

The squirrel grinned and scampered up to the donkey's side,

Its tail twitching.

It does look a very peaceful place to nap,

The squirrel agreed.

But I have to keep busy for now.

There's so much to do before I can rest.

The donkey sighed softly,

Watching the squirrel bounce around,

Collecting more acorns,

And chattering about the preparations it needed to make.

You can stay here,

You know,

The donkey said after a while,

His voice hopeful but calm.

It's quiet and safe.

We could sleep here together when you're ready.

The squirrel paused for a moment,

Considering the offer with a soft smile.

That sounds lovely,

It said,

Its voice softening.

But I'll be hibernating in my own nest,

Deep in the trees.

I can't stay in the field,

There's too much to prepare,

And when winter comes,

I'll need to be somewhere safe and warm.

The donkey blinked slowly,

Feeling that familiar pang of loneliness again.

I understand,

He said gently,

Though his heart felt just a little heavier.

It was nice to meet you,

The squirrel nodded and scampered up the tree,

Pausing briefly to look back at the sleepy donkey.

It was nice to meet you too,

The squirrel said kindly.

Maybe I'll visit again when the seasons change,

But for now,

I must get ready.

And with that,

The squirrel darted back into the trees,

Disappearing among the branches.

The donkey watched as the rustling sound faded,

Leaving him alone once more.

The field was quiet again.

The soft breeze moving through the grass,

And the donkey lay his head down on the cool earth,

Feeling the stillness settle around him.

He sighed deeply,

Feeling the familiar pull of sleep.

It had been nice having a visitor,

Even if just for a little while.

As his eyes closed again,

He drifted back into slumber,

His dreams filled with thoughts of quiet company and soft places to rest.

Some time passed,

On another day,

As the sleepy donkey lay under his usual tree.

He found himself feeling a little more lonely than usual.

The field was quiet,

As it always was,

But today,

The stillness felt heavier.

He watched the clouds lazily drift across the sky,

Wondering if the little bird or the busy squirrel might return.

But,

Knowing deep down that they wouldn't,

His eyes drooped as he lay in the soft grass.

But he didn't feel like falling asleep just yet.

Then,

In the distance,

Something caught his eye.

Through the shimmering waves of grass,

He saw the familiar figures of the man and the woman approaching,

Their slow and steady steps familiar to him.

He felt a small sense of comfort,

Just watching them come closer.

But today was different.

Today,

They were not alone.

As they drew nearer,

The donkey's ears perked up slightly,

His curiosity stirring.

Walking beside them with a calm and gentle gait,

Was another donkey.

Her coat was soft and light brown,

Her ears alert and twitching as she glanced around the field,

Taking in her new surroundings.

She moved with quiet grace,

And even from a distance,

The donkey could tell she was gentle.

The sleepy donkey rose to his feet,

Blinking in surprise.

He had never seen another donkey here before.

In fact,

He couldn't remember the last time he had seen a donkey,

If ever.

His heart,

Which usually beat so slowly and steadily,

Quickened just a little,

As he watched the new arrival.

The closer she got,

The more the field seemed to brighten.

She guided the new donkey into the field,

Opening the gate carefully.

The female donkey stepped inside,

Her eyes meeting the sleepy donkey's for the first time.

There was a brief moment of quiet between them,

A shared understanding that neither needed words to explain.

They simply looked at each other,

And in that moment,

Something inside the sleepy donkey shifted.

He took a small step forward,

His heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time.

The new donkey moved toward him as well,

Her movements calm and deliberate.

They met in the middle of the field,

Their noses gently brushing as they greeted one another.

The sleepy donkey felt a warmth he hadn't felt in what seemed like forever.

It felt like the quiet loneliness of his days had been lifted,

Replaced by something soft and full of comfort.

They stood close together,

Side by side,

Without needing to say anything at all.

The man and the woman watched from a distance,

Smiling softly before they turned to look at each and walked away,

Leaving the two donkeys alone in the wide,

Peaceful field.

The sleepy donkey,

For the first time in as long as he could remember,

Didn't feel like lying down right away.

He felt awake in a way that didn't need rest.

He glanced over at the new donkey,

And she looked back at him with kind eyes,

As if to say,

I'm here now,

You're not alone anymore.

The two donkeys began to walk together,

Slowly and quietly,

Side by side,

Exploring the field that now felt different,

Brighter,

Softer,

More complete.

There was no hurry,

No rush,

Just a quiet companionship that felt as natural as the breeze through the grass.

And when the time finally came to rest,

They settled down together,

Under the shade of the old tree,

Their bodies close,

And the sleepy donkey felt something he had never known before.

He felt not only safe,

But complete.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky,

And the evening breeze began to cool the air,

They both closed their eyes,

And for the first time,

He wasn't sleeping alone.

The field was quiet once more,

But now,

It was a quiet filled with warmth.

Two donkeys,

Side by side,

At peace.

Reviews

I loved this as much as the others. It often takes a few listening sessions because I fall asleep before the end. Thank you sincerely.

Of all of your stories, this is my favorite! Not only does your voice soothe my soul, but the story itself was so heartwarming. You have become my new favorite…