Cradle Songs

Author: 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.

Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This charming poem leans into themes of innocence, love, and the divine, using the image of a baby to represent purity and truth. The poet successfully creates a tender tone that is both warming and inviting, allowing the reader to share in the intimate moments of admiration for the child.

The poem follows a structured rhyme scheme, giving it a rhythmic and melodic quality that complements its lullaby-like content. Each stanza is dedicated to a different aspect of the child's nature and the speaker's response to it, from the baby's bright light (stanza I) to its wisdom and understanding of love (stanza VII). The repetition of the phrase "Baby, baby" at the start of each stanza emphasizes the central focus on the child, while also reinforcing the poem's gentle, soothing rhythm.

A notable literary device employed by the poet is the use of metaphoric language to draw comparisons between the baby and elements of nature and the divine. For instance, the baby's face is described as "flower-sweet", suggesting beauty, purity, and growth. Moreover, the baby is personified as a beacon of truth, capable of discerning genuine affection from false charm. This conceit offers a critique of adult deceit and highlights the inherent honesty of children.

In conclusion, the poem paints a touching portrait of a child, celebrating its purity, truth, and capacity for love. It uses structure and literary devices effectively to create a soothing, melodic tone, while its themes of innocence and love resonate throughout.

Exploring Lyric Poetry

Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.


Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:

  • Expressive Language: Lyric poems use rich and evocative language to convey deep emotions, often painting a vivid picture of the poet's inner world.
  • Personal Perspective: Typically written in the first person, these poems offer a window into the poet's personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections.
  • Musicality: Lyric poems often feature a rhythmic structure, with meter and rhyme that give them a song-like quality, enhancing the emotional impact.

From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.