 | Irish Poems |  |
30
LULLABY
AFTER THE RUSSIAN
To Katharine Ross
God the Father gave thee me,
Jesus Christ presented thee.
Jesus Christ presented thee.
Mary that's without a stain
Brought thee to my window-pane,
Brought thee to my window-pane,
Nursing thee, so little and good,
Under her hair and her blue hood.
Under her hair and her blue hood.
“Olga,” said the blessed one,
“Take thou him and call him John.
“Take thou him and call him John.
Call him, from the Baptist, John,
And him who was my second son.”
And him who was my second son.”
Blessed Mary tossed me thee
As a young rose from a young tree.
As a young rose from a young tree.
31
“For all he is so soft and small
He will be thy man and tall.”
He will be thy man and tall.”
Said Mother Mary: “Olga, take him;
With thy milky bosom slake him.
With thy milky bosom slake him.
See he sleeps when he is fed
Lest he cry uncomforted.”
Lest he cry uncomforted.”
Mary Mother in Heaven's joy
Took so great thought for my boy.
Took so great thought for my boy.
“When thou goest to the well
Linger not to gossip and tell.
Linger not to gossip and tell.
When thou goest to the shop
Loiter not lest he wake up,
Loiter not lest he wake up,
And peace in Heaven be undone
Because a child cries all alone.”
Because a child cries all alone.”
Sleep now, little John, that playest.
Christ be with thee where thou strayest
Christ be with thee where thou strayest
32
In the most sweet fields of sleep
Where He leads His lambs and sheep.
Where He leads His lambs and sheep.
When the time comes thou shalt rise
With loveliest dreams in quiet eyes.
With loveliest dreams in quiet eyes.
Sleep steals at even-fall
Along the bench, beside the wall.
Along the bench, beside the wall.
While fade in dreams father and mother
Sleep and weariness kiss each other.
Sleep and weariness kiss each other.
Drowsiness in sleepy streams
Falls like rain or the moonbeams.
Falls like rain or the moonbeams.
Sleep says: “Give me the child”:
Hushes thee at her breast so mild.
Hushes thee at her breast so mild.
“Sleep,” she breathes, “lie still and warm,
Little John, in the bend o' my arm.”
Little John, in the bend o' my arm.”
Drowsiness at the small ear
Whispers, “I am sleepy, dear.”
Whispers, “I am sleepy, dear.”
33
Drowsiness in a grey veil
And Sleep like the moon pale
And Sleep like the moon pale
Kneel beside thy cradle stirred;
And the bee's asleep and the bird.
And the bee's asleep and the bird.
The angels keeping watch
By the pane, lifting the latch,
By the pane, lifting the latch,
Ask if thou sleepest sweet—
Little eyes, little hands, little feet.
Little eyes, little hands, little feet.
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