Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SLEEPY HEAD, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SLEEPY HEAD, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: As I lay awake in the white moon light
Last Line: To sing of the buttercups and dew.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter
Variant Title(s): The Gnomies


As I lay awake in the white moon light,
I heard a faint singing in the wood,
'Out of bed,
Sleepyhead,
Put your white foot now,
Here are we,
Neath the tree
Singing round the root now!'

I looked out of window, in the white moon light,
The trees were like snow in the wood --
'Come away,
Child, and play
Light with the gnomies;
In a mound,
Green and round,
That's where their home is.
Honey sweet,
Curds to eat,
Cream and frumenty,
Shells and beads,
Poppy seeds,
You shall have plenty.'

But soon as I stooped in the dim moon light
To put on my stocking and my shoe,
The sweet sweet singing died sadly away,
And the light of the morning peeped through:
Then instead of the gnomies there came a red robin
To sing of the buttercups and dew.





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