Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


LULLABY OF THE IROQUOIS by EMILY PAULINE JOHNSON

First Line: LITTLE BROWN BABY-BIRD, LAPPED IN YOUR NEST
Last Line: LITTLE BROWN BABY OF MINE, GO TO SLEEP.
Subject(s): BABIES; IROQUOIS INDIANS; NATIVE AMERICANS; SINGING & SINGERS; SLEEP; INFANTS; INDIANS OF AMERICA; AMERICAN INDIANS; INDIANS OF SOUTH AMERICA; SONGS;

Little brown baby-bird, lapped in your nest,
Wrapped in your nest,
Strapped in your nest,
Your straight little cradle-board rocks you to rest;
Its hands are your nest,
Its bands are your nest;
It swings from the down-bending branch of the oak;
You watch the camp flame, and the curling gray smoke;
But, oh, for your pretty black eyes sleep is best,--
Little brown baby of mine, go to rest.
Little brown baby-bird swinging to sleep,
Winging to sleep,
Singing to sleep,
Your wonder-black eyes that so wide open keep,
Shielding their sleep,
Unyielding to sleep,
The heron is homing, the plover is still,
The night-owl calls from his haunt on the hill,
Afar the fox barks, afar the stars peep,--
Little brown baby of mine, go to sleep.



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