Cradle Song

Alfred Lord Tennyson 1809 – 1892



What does little birdie say
In her nest at peep of day?
Let me fly, says little birdie,
Mother, let me fly away.
Birdie, rest a little longer,
Till thy little wings are stronger.
So she rests a little longer,
Then she flies away.

What does little baby say,
In her bed at peep of day?
Baby says, like little birdie,
Let me rise and fly away.
Baby, sleep a little longer,
Till thy little limbs are stronger.
If she sleeps a little longer,
Baby too shall fly away.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on May 04, 2023

27 sec read
1,413

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABACCCA AABACCCA
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 454
Words 91
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 8, 8

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, FRS was Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular British poets.  more…

All Alfred Lord Tennyson poems | Alfred Lord Tennyson Books

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