Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


BABY JOHN by BURGES JOHNSON

First Line: THE LAZY SUN IS YAWNING AS IT HIDES BEHIND THE TOWN
Last Line: TO SEE IF YOU ARE SLEEPING, BABY JOHN.
Subject(s): BABIES; SLEEP; INFANTS;

The lazy sun is yawning, as it hides behind the town,
For the Sleepy-Time is at hand;
And cozy beds are calling, as the sun goes creeping down,
To each little boy in the land.
The organ-man is drowsy as he wanders down the street;
The leaves are asleep on the tree;
And the horses and the wagons and the little dogs you meet
Are as sleepy as they can be.

@3Your bed is calling to you, little John, Baby John!
There's a sleepy chair beside it to hang your clothes upon.
And I hear the cool sheets saying, "What means this long delaying?
It is time you stopped your playing, Baby John!"@1

The chairs are all so tired that to use them is a sin,
While the floor is asleep, no doubt,
And the carpets are the bedclothes that snugly tuck it in—
You'll wake it if you run about!
I heard the cuckoo calling from the big clock in the hall—
"Hurry up, little John!" it said;
And the little clock is ticking, half asleep against the wall,
"Go to bed! Go to bed! Go to bed!"

@3Your bed is calling to you, little John, Baby John!
There's a crinkley white pillow to rest your head upon.
And the little dreams come creeping, I can see them slyly peeping
To see if you are sleeping, Baby John.@1



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