Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE LULLABY OF MISSISSIPPI, by K. DEVRISH


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LULLABY OF MISSISSIPPI, by                    
First Line: Since your emigrant tent rested
Last Line: "is calling with tears in her eyes?"
Subject(s): Mississippi


"Since your emigrant tent rested
On my ancient, mysterious shores ...
You bring tears, strange sorrows
To these western Mississippi shores.

"Where Hiawatha and Minnehaha
Wandered on my shores at evening,
Listening to your sad serenading cries,
I called your name ... you remained silent.

"Since then, I have been visiting you,
To place some balm on your ancient wounds
But you refused to open your heart to me,
You did not trust me as a mother.

"Thirty-four years I heard your cries;
Still do I come calling your name
As an adopted son of the Mississippi.
Why are you silent ... O Emigrant?

"The deer on my shores are gentle;
Birds in their nests are singing for you;
The moon is shining on silvery waters;
Are they not all friends of yours?

"Answer! I am calling you.
Speak to me of your sorrows as to a mother.
My heart is waiting to hear them all.
We mothers are tender of heart.

"Now is the time to sleep, O Emigrant.
Take your hands from under your chin.
Rest your weary head on my downy moss.
The moon is gone. The birds are singing no more.

"Sleep, sleep ... to rest your bleeding heart
Where evening springs on the end of day,
The evening that dies into night
Where day will rise again in the morning.

"There is no life without sorrow.
There is no love without tears.
Darkness is the comrade of light.
Today does not end without battle."

And I answered ... "Yes, dear mother Mississippi.
I heard all your lullabyes.
Deep in my heart I loved you,
But how can I listen to you
While Armenia, my own Mother
Is calling with tears in her eyes?"





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