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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GERMAN FOLK LULLABY, by                    
First Line: When the little children sleep
Last Line: At the swallow's good morning


When the little children sleep,
Little stars are waking,
Angels bright from heaven come,
And, till morn is breaking,
They will watch the livelong night
By their beds till morning light.
When the little children sleep,
Stars and angels watch do keep.

Lullaby and good-night,
With roses bedight,
With lilies bested,
Is baby's wee bed.
Lay thee down now and rest,
May thy slumber be blest.

Lullaby and good-night,
Thy mother's delight;
Bright angels around
My darling shall stand;
They will guard thee from harm;
Thou shalt wake in my arms.

When children lay them down to sleep,
Two angels come, their watch to keep,
Cover them up safely and warm,
Tenderly shield them from ev'ry harm.

But when they wake at dawn of day,
The two bright angels go away;
Rest from their work of care and love,
For God Himself keeps watch above.

Good-night, good-night,
The stars are bright;
In the still moonlight
The angels hover!
'Neath thy flowery cover
Of roses and lilies and violets white,
Rest thy sweet limbs and gentle head.
If God wills, at dawning
Thou shalt rise from thy bed
At the swallow's good-morning!





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