Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LULLABY by ANONYMOUS

First Line: "ROCKABY, BABY, THY CRADLE IS GREEN"
Last Line: "ROCKABY, BABY, THY CRADLE IS GREEN"
"Rockaby, baby, thy cradle is green;
Father's a nobleman, mother's a queen."
Rockaby, lullaby, all the day long,
Down to the land of the lullaby song.
Babyland never again will be thine,
Land of all mystery, holy, divine,
Motherland, otherland,
Wonderland, underland,
Land of a time ne'er again to be seen;
Flowerland, bowerland,
Airyland, fairyland,
Rockaby, baby, thy cradle is green.

Rockaby, baby, thy mother will keep
Gentle watch over thine azure-eyed sleep;
Baby can't feel what the mother-heart knows.
Throbbing its fear o'er your quiet repose.

Mother-heart knows how baby must fight
Wearily on through the fast-coming night;
Battle unending,
Honor defending,
Baby must wage with the power unseen.
Sleep now, O baby dear!
God and thy mother near;
Rockaby, baby, thy cradle is green.

Rockaby, baby, the days will grow long;
Silent the voice of the mother-love song;
Bowed with sore burdens the man-life must own,
Sorrows that baby must bear all alone.
Wonderland never can come back again;
Thought will come soon--and with reason comes pain.
Sorrowland, motherland,
Drearyland, wearyland,
Baby and heavenland lying between.
Smile, then, in motherland,
Dream in the otherland,
Rockaby, baby, thy cradle is green.



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