A Cradle Song

Prose

2023-12-22 00:02:40.584525+00

This poem by William Blake called "A Cradle Song" was written a few hundred years ago as part of a collection of poems called "Songs of Innocence".

He wrote a second collection of poems called "Songs of Experience" which are a bit in contrast.

It's fascinating that so many of the themes remain relevant over such long time stretches.

Here we have a poem about the authority figure, in their caring, weaving dreams around their child's head, almost like a Christ figure, in the images of Heaven, praying that the child never has to wake from sleep.

Let's just hope the child isn't pissed off about getting woke up by something outside its dreams.

A Cradle Song

Sweet dreams, form a shade
O'er my lovely infant's head!
Sweet dreams of pleasant streams
By happy, silent, moony beams!

Sweet Sleep, with soft down
Weave thy brows an infant crown!
Sweet Sleep, angel mild,
Hover o'er my happy child!

Sweet smiles, in the night
Hover over my delight!
Sweet smiles, mother's smiles,
All the livelong night beguiles.

Sweet moans, dovelike sighs,
Chase not slumber from thy eyes!
Sweet moans, sweeter smiles,
All the dovelike moans beguiles.

Sleep, sleep, happy child!
All creation slept and smiled.
Sleep, sleep, happy sleep,
While o'er thee thy mother weep.

Sweet babe, in thy face
Holy image I can trace;
Sweet babe, once like thee
Thy Maker lay, and wept for me:

Wept for me, for thee, for all,
When He was an infant small.
Thou His image ever see,
Heavenly face that smiles on thee!

Smiles on thee, on me, on all,
Who became an infant small;
Infant smiles are His own smiles;
Heaven and earth to peace beguiles.

-- William Blake, 1789