Sleep, my dear one, sleep, my laddie, While the moon shines clear! I will sing you songs and stories While your cradle's near. Soon, too soon, a time is coming When away you'll ride, With your foot within the stirrup, Your gun at your side. I with silks will sew your saddle; I shall watch you start. Rich and noble you'll appear, but Cossack in your heart. You will wave your farewell to me, But that night in bed I with sleepless eyes and sorrow Bitter tears will shed. I shall break my heart with longing, I shall pray all day: All my thoughts will travel to you When you're far away. Dreams will tell me you are homesick In those foreign lands. Sleep, then, now while care's far from you, While I kiss your hands. Keep your holy Eikon near you That to you I'll give; Kneel in front of it in prayer, Guard it while you live. You'll remember ere the battle All my love for you. Sleep on now, my son, my darling, "Bai-ush-ki-bayu." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FIDDLING WOOD by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET IF IT WERE NOT FOR YOU by HAYDEN CARRUTH A SUMMER'S GARDEN by ROBERT FROST AUTUMN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DOWN BY THE CARIB SEA: 4. THE LOTTERY GIRL by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON AUTUMN SONG by KATHERINE MANSFIELD |