Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SLEEP, by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES Poet Analysis First Line: Life's angel half, sweet sleep Last Line: Can take their fears away. Alternate Author Name(s): Davies, W. H. Subject(s): Sleep | ||||||||
Life's angel half, sweet Sleep, When, like the mermaid, thou In all thy loveliness Dost rise from out the deep Where Life is foul to see -- Men wake to scheme and sin, But thou dost keep them pure In that sweet hour with thee. The flower upon the hill, Where caves and crags and peaks Carry the thunder on After the heavens are still, Knows thee: as that cared flower Within some sheltering wood, And houses built by men, And in my lady's bower. If Age hath followed Truth, A conscience clean and pure Is unto him as is Sweet Innocence to Youth; But Age and Innocence Dost thou, sweet Sleep, reward: Thou givest rest to both, To both art recompense. Yet thou hast awful power When thou art lying still And breathing quietly! Was it not such an hour Dark Murder slunk away, Fearing thy innocence More than the watchfulness Of men in armed array? Thou makest War to cease Awhile, and armies pause; And in the midst of strife Thou bringest them to peace; The tyrant must delay The cruel deed at thy command; Oppressed ones know thy balm Can take their fears away. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...YOU'S SWEET TO YO' MAMMY JES DE SAME by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON CHAMBER MUSIC: 3 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 22 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 34 by JAMES JOYCE GOING TO SLEEP by ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN THE BLUE NAP by WILLIAM MATTHEWS A BIRD'S ANGER by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES |
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