Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


IRISH FOLK LULLABY by ANONYMOUS

First Line: "SLEEP, MY CHILD, MY DARLING CHILD, MY LOVELY CHILD, SLEEP"
Last Line: AND CAKES FOR THY WEDDING DAY!

Sleep, my child. my darling child, my lovely child, sleep!
The sea sleepeth on the green fields,
The moon sleepeth on the blue waters,
Sleep, my child, my darling child, my lovely child, sleep!

Sleep, my child!
The morning sleepeth upon a bed of roses,
The evening sleepeth on the tops of the dark hills;
Sleep, my child, my darling child, child of my heart's love, sleep!

Sleep, my child!
The winds sleep in the rocky caverns,
The stars sleep on their pillow of clouds,
Sleep, my child, my darling child, my little child, sleep!

Sleep, my child!
The mist sleepeth on the bosom of the valley,
The broad lake beneath the shade of the trees,
Sleep, my child, my darling child, my tender child, sleep!

Make no noise, no sudden shock,
My little child is sleeping;
Nani, Nani, Nani, Nani,
Be all his ailings healed!
The sun sleeps on the mountains, the partridge in the fields,
My little child is sleeping between the linen white;
Sleep sleeps upon the mountain, the partridge in the wood.
My little child is sleeping to take his fill of sleep.
Sleep, my child, with fond caresses,
Sleep nourished with perfumes,
Joy be with thine awakening,
And cakes for thy wedding day!




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