Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WILD WOMAN'S LULLABY, by CONSTANCE LINDSAY SKINNER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WILD WOMAN'S LULLABY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: What shall I sing to thee, babe, on my back
Last Line: Hi-I-ri-I-ki! Ri-I-ki! Ri-eek!


What shall I sing to thee, babe, on my back?
Song of the Eagle that mates with the storm!
Hi-i-ri-i-ki! Ri-eek!
The will gale is weeping, driven before him
To his nest on the black lone mast of the night;
Swinging, swinging, far out, high out, over the sea!
Hi-i-ri-i-ki! Ri-eek!
Thy father is Eagle-Go-High, chief of thy tribe:
Fiercest in war, wisest in council, swiftest in hunting,
Harshest and fondest in the tent of his woman;
He is my mate!

What shall I sing to thee, babe on my back?
Song of the wind that is wanton forever!
Fleeing forever, luring and weeping, laughing and leaping forever;
Calling forever--calling--for the chase of swift wings.
For the drive and the smite of wild wings,
For the fold of strong wings,
For the sleep in warm wings.
Oo-o-roo-o-rrr-ufffff-oo! Thy mother is Storm-Dancer,
daughter of winds.
What are thou, Little Chiefling, babe of my heart?
The star that I plucked from the mast of the night,
When the wings of thy father outstrove me.
Hi-i-ri-i-ki! Ri-eek!
Eagle-Go-High, this is thy son,--
He falls asleep, smiling,
To the scream of thy nesting-call.
Hi-i-ri-i-ki! Ri-i-ki! Ri-eek!





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