Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A CHILD ASLEEP, by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: How he sleepeth, having drunken Last Line: Dare not bless him! But be blessed by his peace, and go in peace. Subject(s): Children; Sleep; Childhood | ||||||||
I How he sleepeth, having drunken Weary childhood's mandragore! From its pretty eyes have sunken Pleasures to make room for more; Sleeping near the withered nosegay which he pulled the day before. II Nosegays! leave them for the waking; Throw them earthward where they grew; Dim are such beside the breaking Amaranths he looks unto: Folded eyes see brighter colors than the open ever do. III Heaven-flowers, rayed by shadows golden From the palms they sprang beneath, Now perhaps divinely holden, Swing against him in a wreath: We may think so from the quickening of his bloom and of his breath. IV Vision unto vision calleth While the young child dreameth on: Fair, O dreamer, thee befalleth With the glory thou hast won! Darker wast thou in the garden yestermorn by summer sun. V We should see the spirits ringing Round thee, were the clouds away: 'T is the child-heart draws them, singing In the silent-seeming clay -- Singing! stars that seem the mutest go in music all the way. VI As the moths around a taper, As the bees around a rose, As the gnats around a vapor, So the spirits group and close Round about a holy childhood as if drinking its repose. VII Shapes of brightness overlean thee, Flash their diadems of youth On the ringlets which half screen thee, While thou smilest ... not in sooth Thy smile, but the overfair one, dropt from some ethereal mouth. VIII Haply it is angels' duty, During slumber, shade by shade To fine down this childish beauty To the thing it must be made Ere the world shall bring it praises, or the tomb shall see it fade. IX Softly, softly! make no noises! Now he lieth dead and dumb; Now he hears the angels' voices Folding silence in the room: Now he muses deep the meaning of the Heaven-words as they come. X Speak not! he is consecrated; Breathe no breath across his eyes: Lifted up and separated On the hand of God he lies In a sweetness beyond touching, held in cloistral sanctities. XI Could ye bless him, father -- mother, Bless the dimple in his cheek? Dare ye look at one another And the benediction speak? Would ye not break out in weeping and confess yourselves too weak? XII He is harmless, ye are sinful; Ye are troubled, he at ease; From his slumber virtue winful Floweth outward with increase. Dare not bless him! but be blessed by his peace, and go in peace. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE THREE CHILDREN by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN CHILDREN SELECTING BOOKS IN A LIBRARY by RANDALL JARRELL COME TO THE STONE ... by RANDALL JARRELL THE LOST WORLD by RANDALL JARRELL A SICK CHILD by RANDALL JARRELL CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS ON THE DEATH OF FRIENDS IN CHILDHOOD by DONALD JUSTICE THE POET AT SEVEN by DONALD JUSTICE A CHILD'S THOUGHT OF GOD by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |
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