Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LULLAY, LULLAY, by JOHN SKELTON


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LULLAY, LULLAY, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: With lullay, lullay, like a child
Last Line: Ywis, pole hatchet, she bleared thine eye.
Variant Title(s): The Sleeper Hook-winked;dyvers Balettys And Dyties Solacyous;the Garland Of Laurel: My Darling Dear, My Daisy Flower


With lullay, lullay, like a child,
Thou sleepest too long, thou art beguiled.

My darling dear, my daisy flower,
Let me, quod he, lie in your lap.
Lie still, quod she, my paramour,
Lie still hardely, and take a nap.
His head was heavy, such was his hap,
All drowsy dreaming, drowned in sleep,
That of his love he took no keep.

With ba, ba, ba! and bas, bas, bas!
She cherished him both cheek and chin,
That he wist never where he was:
He had forgotten all deadly sin.
He wanted wit her love to win:
He trusted her payment and lost all his pay;
She left him sleeping and stole away.

The rivers rough, the waters wan,
She spared not to wet her feet;
She waded over, she found a man
That halsed her heartily and kissed her sweet:
Thus after her cold she caught a heat.
My love, she said, routeth in his bed;
Ywis he hath an heavy head.

What dreamest thou, drunkard, drowsy pate?
Thy lust and liking is from thee gone;
Thou blinkard blowbowl, thou wakest too late,
Behold thou liest, luggard, alone.
Well may thou sigh, well may thou groan,
To deal with her so cowardly:
Ywis, pole hatchet, she bleared thine eye.





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