Sleep, dear child, as mother bids; If thou sleep thou shalt not die! Sleep, and death shall pass thee by. Close worn eyes and aching lids, Yield to soft forgetfulness; Let sweet sleep thy senses press; Child on whom my love doth dwell, Sleep, sleep, and thou shalt be well. See, I strew thee, soft and light, Bed of down that cannot pain; Linen sheets have o'er it lain More than snow new-fallen white. Perfume sweet, health-giving scent, The meadows' pride, is o'er it sprent: Sleep, dear son, a little spell, Sleep, sleep, and thou shalt be well. Change thy side and rest thee there Beauty! love! turn on thy side, O my son, thou dost not bide As of yore, so fresh and fair. Sickness mars thee with its spite, Cruel sickness changes quite; How alas! its traces tell! Yet sleep, and thou shalt be well. Sleep, thy mother's kisses poured On her darling son. Repose; God give end to all our woes. Sleep, and wake by sleep restored, Pangs that make thee faint shall fly! Sleep, my child, and lullaby! Sleep, and fears of death dispel; Sleep, sleep, and thou shalt be well. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HYMN: 2 by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD VANQUISHED; ON THE DEATH OF GENERAL GRANT by FRANCIS FISHER BROWNE THE BIRDS: THE HOOPOE'S CALL TO HIS WIFE PROCNE, THE NIGHTINGALE by ARISTOPHANES TO A FRIEND by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE THE RUBY THROAT by RUTH BUTLER BROWN EPIGRAM ON JOHN TOOTH by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 5 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |