Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VILLAGE SLEEP SONG, by JOHN GALSWORTHY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VILLAGE SLEEP SONG, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sleep! All who toil
Last Line: And all you little children, sleep!
Alternate Author Name(s): Sinjohn, John
Subject(s): Sleep; Villages


SLEEP! all who toil;
No longer creaks the harvest wain,
For sleeping lies the harvest day,
Asleep the winding leafy lane
Where none's afoot to miss his way.

Sleep! village street,
You've stared too long upon the sun;
Now turn you to the gentle moon.
Sleep, windows! for your work is done,
Tomorrow's light will come too soon!

Sleep! Sleep! the heat
Is over in the darkened home.
A night-jar's spinning in the brake,
And -- hark! -- the floating owls have come
To try and keep the hours awake.

Sleep! honey hives!
And swallow's flight, and thrushes' call!
Sleep, tongues, a little, while you may,
And let night's cool oblivion fall
On all the gossip of the day.

Sleep! men and wives,
A sweetness of refreshment steal;
The morning star can vigil keep;
Too quickly turns the slumber wheel! --
And all you little children, sleep!





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