The Poetry Corner

Cradle Songs

By Algernon Charles Swinburne

(To a tune of Blakes) I. Baby, baby bright, Sleep can steal from sight Little of your light: Soft as fire in dew, Still the life in you Lights your slumber through. Four white eyelids keep Fast the seal of sleep Deep as love is deep: Yet, though closed it lies, Love behind them spies Heaven in two blue eyes. II. Baby, baby dear, Earth and heaven are near Now, for heaven is here. Heaven is every place Where your flower-sweet face Fills our eyes with grace. Till your own eyes deign Earth a glance again, Earth and heaven are twain. Now your sleep is done, Shine, and show the sun Earth and heaven are one. III. Baby, baby sweet, Loves own lips are meet Scarce to kiss your feet. Hardly loves own ear, When your laugh crows clear, Quite deserves to hear. Hardly loves own wile, Though it please awhile, Quite deserves your smile. Baby full of grace, Bless us yet a space: Sleep will come apace. IV. Baby, baby true, Man, whateer he do, May deceive not you. Smiles whose love is guile, Worn a flattering while, Win from you no smile. One, the smile alone Out of loves heart grown, Ever wins your own. Man, a dunce uncouth, Errs in age and youth: Babies know the truth. V. Baby, baby fair, Love is fain to dare Bless your haughtiest air. Baby blithe and bland, Reach but forth a hand None may dare withstand; Love, though wellnigh cowed, Yet would praise aloud Pride so sweetly proud. No! the fitting word Even from breeze or bird Never yet was heard. VI. Baby, baby kind, Though no word we find, Bear us yet in mind. Half a little hour, Baby bright in bower, Keep this thought aflower Love it is, I see, Here with heart and knee Bows and worships me. What can baby do, Then, for love so true? Let it worship you. VII. Baby, baby wise, Loves divine surmise Lights your constant eyes. Day and night and day One mute word would they, As the soul saith, say. Trouble comes and goes; Wonder ebbs and flows; Love remains and glows. As the fledgeling dove Feels the breast above, So your heart feels love.