Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Lullaby" by Ralph Burns is a poignant and introspective poem that weaves together themes of memory, grief, and the inevitable passage into the complexities of life. Set against the backdrop of a natural landscape that is both serene and marked by human interventions—such as barbed wire stringing trees together—the poem speaks to the juxtaposition of innocence and the encroaching realities of the world.

The opening lines paint a vivid picture of the land surrounding the house, suggesting a connection between the natural world and human life, with its terraces leading "down and down," mirroring the descent into deeper, perhaps more difficult, stages of existence. The "white rock gleaming through the green" offers a glimpse of something pure and enduring amidst growth and change, setting the stage for the themes explored in the poem.

Burns introduces the concept of memory as an art that involves forgetting, inviting the listener (presumably a child) to "sleep now, smile and sleep" as a way to bypass the "molecules of grief." This invocation to sleep serves as a protective lullaby, an attempt to shield the child from the inevitable sorrows and complexities of life, if only for a moment. The speaker's desire to "kneel and believe, believe and submit" reflects a longing for faith or acceptance in the face of life's uncertainties and challenges.

As the poem unfolds, Burns acknowledges the inevitable experiences that await the child: hunger, sweetness, and a "sweet hunger for what reaches out to touch." These lines hint at the cycle of desire and fulfillment, the longing for connection and understanding that characterizes human existence. The mention of "those poor, nerveless times" when one may "curse / and strike out at yourself" speaks to the moments of self-doubt and internal conflict that everyone faces, further emphasizing the inevitability of experiencing pain alongside joy.

The speaker's reflection on watching the child sleep and feeling angry at "my abstraction of your sorrow" reveals a deep empathy and frustration with the limitations of protecting loved ones from suffering. This anger is directed not only at the speaker's own helplessness but also at the "necessity" of sorrow and the "unspeakable" nature of certain truths about life.

The poem closes with a return to the lullaby, urging the child to "sleep and smile, sleep deep." This final invocation is both tender and tragic, acknowledging the temporary refuge of sleep from the complexities of the waking world while also recognizing the profound love and concern that the speaker holds for the child.

"Lullaby" is a deeply moving meditation on the roles of protector and observer that adults play in the lives of children, the harsh realities that await outside the innocence of youth, and the universal struggle to find peace and acceptance in a world filled with both beauty and pain. Through his evocative imagery and contemplative tone, Burns captures the bittersweet nature of watching a loved one grow and face the world, filled with a mix of hope, love, and apprehension.

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