Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE WILD WOMAN'S LULLABY by CONSTANCE LINDSAY SKINNER

Poet Analysis

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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