Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


DUTCH LULLABY by HOWARD A. PLUMMER

First Line: THE WEATHER-BROWN WINDMILL SWINGS TO REST
Last Line: "SIGNALING, ""KINDJE, SLEEP."
Subject(s): NETHERLANDS; YALE UNIVERSITY; HOLLAND; DUTCH PEOPLE;

THE weather-brown windmill swings to rest;
Its whimsical drone is o'er.
The peat-smoke mantles a curling crest
On the quay by the dyke-bound shore.
While the Zuyder Zee sings low to thee,
Murmuring "Kindje, sleep."

The fancy-fairies have sailed away,
'Cross the twinkling moon-winked snow,
In the steeple-hats of mynheer's array
And his sturdiest wooden sabots. --
Oh! for the streams of the land of dreams,
Whispering "Kindje, sleep."

So, quick, my sweet, ere the goblin-elf
Peer out on thy blue-bright eyes,
For swift he swoops from the pottery-shelf
And dread are the dreams he plies.
But never a fear, for the moon rides clear,
Signaling, "Kindje, sleep."



Home: PoetryExplorer.net