|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
OUR LADY'S LULLABY, by RICHARD ROWLANDS Poet's Biography First Line: Upon my lap my sovereign sits Last Line: Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! Alternate Author Name(s): Verstegen, Richard Subject(s): Mary. Mother Of Jesus; Mothers; Women In The Bible; Virgin Mary | |||
Upon my lap my Sovereign sits And sucks upon my breast; Meanwhile His love sustains my life And gives my body rest. Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! When Thou hast taken Thy repast, Repose, my Babe, on me! So may Thy mother and Thy nurse Thy cradle also be! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! I grieve, that duty doth not work All that my wishing would; Because I would not be to Thee But in the best I should! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! Yet as I am, and as I may, I must, and will, be Thine! Though all too little for thyself Vouchsafing to be mine. Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! My wits, my words, my deeds, my thoughts, And else what is in me, I rather will not wish to use, If not in serving Thee! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! My babe, my bliss, my child, my choice, My fruit, my flower, and bud; My Jesus, and my only joy! The sum of all my good! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! My sweetness, and the sweetest most That Heaven could Earth deliver! Soul of my love, Spirit of my life, Abide with me for ever! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! Live still with me, and be my Love! And death will me refrain; Unless Thou let me die with Thee, To live with Thee again! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! Leave now to wail! thou luckless wight That wrought'st thy race's woe! Redress is found! and foiled is Thy fruit-alluring foe! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! The fruit of death, from Paradise Made thee, exiled, mourn! My fruit of life, to Paradise Makes joyful thy return! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! Grow up, good fruit! Be nourished by There fountains two of me! That only flow with Maiden's milk, The only meat for Thee! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! The earth is now a heaven become! And this base bower of mine, A princely Palace unto me, My son doth make it shine! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! His sight gives clearness to my sight, When waking I Him see! And, sleeping, His mild countenance Gives favor unto me! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! When I Him in mine arms embrace; I feel my heart embraced! E'en by the inward grace of His, Which He in me hath placed. Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! And when I kiss His loving lips; Then His sweet-smelling breath Doth yield a savor to my soul, That feeds Love, Hope, and Faith! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! The Shepherds left their keeping sheep, For joy to see my lamb! How may I more rejoice to see Myself to be the dam! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! Three kings their treasures hither brought, Of incense, myrrh, and gold; The Heaven's treasure, and the King, That here they might behold, Sing, lullaby, my little boy Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! One sort, an Angel did direct; A star did guide the other: And all, the fairest son to see That ever had a mother! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! This sight I see! this child I have! This infant I embrace! O, endless comfort of the earth; And Heaven's eternal grace! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! Thee, Sanctity herself doth serve! Thee, Goodness doth attend! Thee, Blessedness doth wait upon; And Virtues all commend! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! Great Kings and Prophets wished have To see that I possess! Yet wish I never Thee to see, If not in thankfulness! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! Let Heaven and Earth, and saints and men, Assistance give to me! That all their most occurring aid Augment my thanks to Thee! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! And let th' ensuing blessed race, Thou wilt succeeding raise, Join all their praises unto mine, To multiply Thy praise! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! And take my service well in worth, And Joseph's here with me! Who, of my husband bears the name, Thy servant for to be! Sing, lullaby, my little boy! Sing, lullaby, my life's joy! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MADONNA by KATHARINE LEE BATES BALLADE TO OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA by HILAIRE BELLOC OUR LORD AND OUR LADY by HILAIRE BELLOC PLASTIC BEATITUDE by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR A SONG OF MARY by LUCILLE CLIFTON ISLAND MARY by LUCILLE CLIFTON MARY'S DREAM by LUCILLE CLIFTON |
| |