SLEEP, my own darling, By, baby, by; Mother is with thee, By, baby, by. There, baby. (Oh, how the wild winds wail!) Hush, baby. (Turning to sleet and hail; Ah, how the pine-tree moans and mutters! -- I wonder if Ellen will think of the shutters?) Sleep, my own darling, By, baby, by; Mother is with thee, By, baby, by. Rest thee. (She couldn't have left the blower Down in the parlor? There's so much to show her!) By-by, my sweetest. (Now the rain's pouring! Is it wind or the dining-room fire that's roaring?) Sleep, my own darling, By, baby, by; Mother is with thee, By, baby, by. How lovely his forehead! -- my own blessed pet! He's nearly asleep. (Now I mustn't forget That pork in the brine, and the stair-rods to-morrow.) Heaven shield him forever from trouble and sorrow! Sleep, my own darling, By, baby, by; Mother is with thee, By, baby, by. Those dear little ringlets, so silky and bright! (I do hope the muffins will be nice and light.) How lovely he is! (Yes, she said she could fry.) Oh, what would I do if my baby should die! Sleep, my own darling, By, baby, by; Mother is with thee, By, baby, by. That sweet little hand, and the soft, dimpled cheek! Sleep, darling. (I'll have his clothes shortened this week. How tightly he's holding my dress; I'm afraid He'll wake when I move. There! his bed isn't made!) Sleep, my own darling, By, baby, by; In thy soft cradle Peacefully lie. (He's settled at last. But I can't leave him so, Though I ought to be going this instant, I know. There's everything standing and waiting down-stairs. Ah me, but a mother is cumbered with cares!) | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOMAGE TO SEXTUS PROPERTIUS: 11 by EZRA POUND THE VOICE by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON STREET CORNER COLLEGE by KENNETH PATCHEN PSALM 61 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE CHALSE A KILLEY; TO CHALSE IN HEAVEN by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN EPITAPH ON THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SUSAN, COUNTESS OF MONTGOMERY by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |