Living

Lullaby

by James Whitcomb Riley 1849–1916

From Pipes O' Pan at Zekesbury (1895)

Living

The maple strews the embers of its leaves
O'er the laggard swallows nestled 'neath the eaves;
And the moody cricket falters in his cry--Baby-bye!--
And the lid of night is falling o'er the sky--Baby-bye!--
The lid of night is falling o'er the sky!

The rose is lying pallid, and the cup
Of the frosted calla-lily folded up;
And the breezes through the garden sob and sigh--Baby-bye!--
O'er the sleeping blooms of summer where they lie--Baby-bye!--
O'er the sleeping blooms of summer where they lie!

Yet, Baby--O my Baby, for your sake
This heart of mine is ever wide awake,
And my love may never droop a drowsy eye--Baby-bye!--
Till your own are wet above me when I die--Baby-bye!--
Till your own are wet above me when I die.

MLA

Riley, James Whitcomb. “Lullaby.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/186/.

Chicago

Riley, James Whitcomb. “Lullaby.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/186/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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