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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A SLUMBER SONG, by                    
First Line: A beautiful bird at the casement sings
Last Line: Sleep, my pretty one, sleep!


A beautiful bird at the casement sings,
Now clear, now soft, his sweet voice rings!
Sleep, my bonny one, sleep!
And he tells of the land o'er the azure sea,
Where babies and birdies so blithe will be,
Sleep, my bonny one, sleep!

When your soft lids fall, with their curling fringe,
He spreads his purple and silver wings,
Sleep, my pretty one, sleep!
And bears you away to the golden west,
Where the south-wind rocks his mate in her nest,
Sleep, my pretty one, sleep!

For there all the babies in slumber go,
To play with the angel babes, you know,
Sleep, my bonny one, sleep!
They gather the flowers of rubies and pearls,
That gleam like stars in their tangled curls,
Sleep, my bonny one, sleep!

They harness the butterflies. two and two,
With cobweb strands of silvery hue.
Sleep, my pretty one, sleep!
While from tree and bower, blossom and spray,
Each wild bird carols a roundelay,
Sleep, my pretty one, sleep!

They chase and ride, with shouts of glee,
The angels' lambs o'er the dew-kissed lea,
Sleep, my bonny one, sleep!
The lambs and their mother to us, you see,
Seem only the stars and the moon to be,
Sleep, my bonny one, sleep!

Go, play with the angels the whole night long,
And join in their frolic, and sport and song!
Sleep, my pretty one, sleep!
But oh, bright bird, at the peep of day,
Bring back my bairnie to me, I pray--
Sleep, my pretty one, sleep!





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