Classic and Contemporary Poetry
IN THE NURSERY, by JEAN INGELOW Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Where do you go, bob, when you're fast asleep? Last Line: Perhaps -- we'll see.' Subject(s): Dreams; Heaven; Night; Orchards; Nightmares; Paradise; Bedtime | ||||||||
'WHERE do you go, Bob, when you're fast asleep?' 'Where? O well, once I went into a deep Mine, father told of, and a cross man said He'd make me help to dig, and eat black bread. I saw the Queen once, in her room, quite near. She said, "You rude boy, Bob, how came you here?" 'Was it like mother's boudoir?' 'Grander far, Gold chairs and things -- all over diamonds -- Ah!' 'You're sure it was the Queen?' 'Of course, a crown Was on her, and a spangly purple gown.' 'I went to heaven last night.' 'O Lily, no, How could you? 'Yes I did, they told me so, And my best doll, my favourite, with the blue Frock, Jasmine, I took her to heaven too.' 'What was it like?' 'A kind of -- I can't tell -- A sort of orchard place in a long dell, With trees all over flowers. And there were birds Who could do talking, say soft pretty words; They let me stroke them, and I showed it all To Jasmine. And I heard a blue dove call, "Child, this is heaven." I was not frightened when It spoke, I said "Where are the angels then?"' 'Well.' 'So it said, "Look up and you shall see." There were two angels sitting in the tree, As tall as mother; they had long gold hair. They let drop down the fruit they gather'd there And little angels came for it -- so sweet Here they were beggar children in the street, And the dove said they had the prettiest things, And wore their best frocks every day.' 'And wings, Had they no wings?' 'O yes, and lined with white Like swallow wings, so soft -- so very light Fluttering about.' 'Well.' 'Well, I did not stay, So that was all.' 'They made you go away?' 'I did not go -- but -- I was gone.' 'I know.' 'But it's a pity, Bob, we never go Together.' 'Yes, and have no dreams to tell, But the next day both know it all quite well.' 'And, Bob, if I could dream you came with me You would be there perhaps.' 'Perhaps -- we'll see.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BREATH OF NIGHT by RANDALL JARRELL HOODED NIGHT by ROBINSON JEFFERS NIGHT WITHOUT SLEEP by ROBINSON JEFFERS WORKING OUTSIDE AT NIGHT by DENIS JOHNSON POEM TO TAKE BACK THE NIGHT by JUNE JORDAN COOL DARK ODE by DONALD JUSTICE POEM TO BE READ AT 3 A.M by DONALD JUSTICE ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT by BOB KAUFMAN ECHO AND THE FERRY by JEAN INGELOW GLADYS AND HER ISLAND; AN IMPERFECT TALE WITH DOUBTFUL MORAL by JEAN INGELOW |
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