Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A CRADLE SONG (FOND NONSENSE), by BELLE RICHARDSON HARRISON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A CRADLE SONG (FOND NONSENSE), by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The world is full of pictures; but the dearest and the best
Last Line: "hush-a-baby-by."
Subject(s): Mothers & Sons; Singing & Singers; Sleep; Songs


THE world is full of pictures; but the dearest and the best,
Is a mother softly crooning to the baby on her breast:
"Go to sleep, sweet by-yo,
Shadows creep, sweet by-yo,
Don't you weep nor sigh-yo,—
Hush-a-baby-by."

With a rapt expression singing to her darling baby boy,
All the cares of day are lifted, joy remains without alloy:
"Hush-a-by, dear by-yo,
Mother's nigh, dear by-yo,
Don't, my baby, cry-yo,—
Precious baby boy."

But the little sprite, resisting cradle songs, is full of glee,
Crowing, dimpling, full of mischief, dancing on his mother's knee:
"Sweetly rest, dear by-yo,
On mother's breast, dear by-yo,
'Tis birdie's nest, my by-yo,—
By-yo-baby-by."

See the mother smile responsive, as a rosebud mouth is kissed,
Fold him gently to her bosom, as he shakes his tiny fist.
Still she sings her "By-yo,
Shut your little eye-yo;
Baby, won't you try-yo,
To go to sleep, by-yo!"

For a frolic he is eager, and resents the lullabies,
Kicks and stiffens in his fury, frets and lustily he cries.
"Don't you scream, dear by-yo,
Sweetly dream, dear by-yo,
On slumber's stream, dear by-yo,
Hush-a-baby-by!"

Thus she rocks and sings to baby, softly, sweetly o'er and o'er,
With a patience unexhausted, for two weary hours or more.
"'Tis twelve o'clock, my by-yo,
So crows the cock, my by-yo,
I sing and rock, my by-yo,—
Sing and rock, by-you."

Ah, her loving task is over, for the curly head droops low,
And the wooing notes are silent, and the rocking to and fro.
"I see your eyelids close, dear,
In slumber's sweet repose, dear,
Be sure to sleep, not doze, dear,—
Hush-a-baby-by."

Bending low, the mother tucks him in his cradle snug and warm,
Breathes a prayer unto the Father to protect her child from harm.
No more we hear her "by-yo."
Her crooning "lullaby-yo."
Her soothing "hush-a-by-yo,
Hush-a-baby-by."





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