Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GONERIL'S LULLABY, FR. KING LEAR'S WIFE by GORDON BOTTOMLEY

First Line: THE OWLETS IN ROOF-HOLES
Last Line: TWIXT ME AND MY ARM.
THE owlets in roof-holes
Can sing for themselves;
The smallest brown squirrel
Both scampers and delves;
But a baby does nothing --
She never knows how --
She must hark to her mother
Who sings to her now.

Sleep then, ladykin, peeping so;
Hide your handies and ley lei lo.

The lish baby otter
Is sleeky and streaming,
With catching bright fishes,
Ere babies learn dreaming;
But no wet little otter
Is ever so warm
As the fleecy-wrapt baby
'Twixt me and my arm.



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