Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE DEAD CHILD by ERNEST CHRISTOPHER DOWSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: SLEEP ON, DEAR, NOW
Last Line: AND SHARE THY REST.
Subject(s): DEATH - CHILDREN; DEATH - BABIES;

SLEEP on, dear, now
The last sleep and the best,
And on thy brow,
And on thy quiet breast
Violets I throw.

Thy scanty years
Were mine a little while;
Life had no fears
To trouble thy brief smile
With toil or tears.

Lie still, and be
For evermore a child!
Not grudgingly,
Whom life has not defiled,
I render thee.

Slumber so deep,
No man would rashly wake;
I hardly weep,
Fain only, for thy sake,
To share thy sleep.

Yes, to be dead,
Dead, here with thee to-day, --
When all is said
'Twere good by thee to lay
My weary head.

The very best!
Ah, child so tired of play,
I stand confessed:
I want to come thy way,
And share thy rest.



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