Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
June 19, 1861
Democrat And Sentinel
Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
A lyrical poem where a weary adult pleads with Time to reverse and bring back their deceased mother for one night of childhood comfort and lullaby, emphasizing enduring motherly love amid life's toils.
Clipping
OCR Quality
85%
Good
Full Text
FROM THE KNICKERBOCKER, FOR MAY.
"ROCK ME TO SLEEP."
Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight,
Make me a child again just for to-night!
Mother, come back from the echoless shore,
Take me again to your heart as of yore;
Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care,
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair;
Over my slumbers your loving watch keep;—
Rock me to sleep, Mother, rock me to sleep!
Backward, turn backward, O tide of the years!
I am so weary of toil and of tears—
Toil without recompense, tears all in vain—
Take them and give me my childhood again!
I have grown weary of dust and decay,
Weary of flinging my soul wealth away;
Weary of sowing for others to reap;—
Rock me to sleep, Mother—rock me to sleep!
Over my heart, in the days that are flown,
No love like mother-love ever has shone;
No other worship abides and endures,
Faithful, unselfish, and patient like yours:
Neither as a baby when dozing to sleep,
I asking pretty stories of the sweet type of Years;
Soothing her soft, light lashes just sweeping my face,
Never hereafter to wake or to weep;—
Rock me to sleep, Mother—rock me to sleep!
Backward, turn backward, O tide of the years!
I am so weary of toil and of tears—
Toil without recompense, tears all in vain—
Take them and give me my childhood again!
I have grown weary of dust and decay,
Weary of flinging my soul wealth away;
Weary of sowing for others to reap;—
Rock me to sleep, Mother—rock me to sleep!
Let your brown hair, just lighted with gold,
Fall on your shoulders again as of old;
Let it fall over my forehead to-night,
Shielding my eyes from the flickering light;
For with its sunny-edged shadows once more
Happily will throng the sweet visions of yore;
Lovingly, softly, its bright billows sweep—
Rock me to sleep, Mother—rock me to sleep!
Mother, dear Mother, the years have been long
Since I last listened your lullaby song:
Sing, then, and unto my soul it shall seem
Womanhood's years have been only a dream.
Clasped to your breast in a loving embrace,
With your soft, light lashes just sweeping my face,
Never hereafter to wake or to weep;—
Rock me to sleep, Mother—rock me to sleep!
Who wrote these lines? They are brimful of tears; and we envy not the man who can read them without emotion.
A modest old maid, visiting a newly married friend recently, saw her husband's shirt lying on the bed, exclaimed, "Oh, mercy, a man's shirt on your bed? Such a thing on my bed would give me the nightmare."
"Very likely," responded the wife, "unless the man has it in it."
"ROCK ME TO SLEEP."
Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight,
Make me a child again just for to-night!
Mother, come back from the echoless shore,
Take me again to your heart as of yore;
Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care,
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair;
Over my slumbers your loving watch keep;—
Rock me to sleep, Mother, rock me to sleep!
Backward, turn backward, O tide of the years!
I am so weary of toil and of tears—
Toil without recompense, tears all in vain—
Take them and give me my childhood again!
I have grown weary of dust and decay,
Weary of flinging my soul wealth away;
Weary of sowing for others to reap;—
Rock me to sleep, Mother—rock me to sleep!
Over my heart, in the days that are flown,
No love like mother-love ever has shone;
No other worship abides and endures,
Faithful, unselfish, and patient like yours:
Neither as a baby when dozing to sleep,
I asking pretty stories of the sweet type of Years;
Soothing her soft, light lashes just sweeping my face,
Never hereafter to wake or to weep;—
Rock me to sleep, Mother—rock me to sleep!
Backward, turn backward, O tide of the years!
I am so weary of toil and of tears—
Toil without recompense, tears all in vain—
Take them and give me my childhood again!
I have grown weary of dust and decay,
Weary of flinging my soul wealth away;
Weary of sowing for others to reap;—
Rock me to sleep, Mother—rock me to sleep!
Let your brown hair, just lighted with gold,
Fall on your shoulders again as of old;
Let it fall over my forehead to-night,
Shielding my eyes from the flickering light;
For with its sunny-edged shadows once more
Happily will throng the sweet visions of yore;
Lovingly, softly, its bright billows sweep—
Rock me to sleep, Mother—rock me to sleep!
Mother, dear Mother, the years have been long
Since I last listened your lullaby song:
Sing, then, and unto my soul it shall seem
Womanhood's years have been only a dream.
Clasped to your breast in a loving embrace,
With your soft, light lashes just sweeping my face,
Never hereafter to wake or to weep;—
Rock me to sleep, Mother—rock me to sleep!
Who wrote these lines? They are brimful of tears; and we envy not the man who can read them without emotion.
A modest old maid, visiting a newly married friend recently, saw her husband's shirt lying on the bed, exclaimed, "Oh, mercy, a man's shirt on your bed? Such a thing on my bed would give me the nightmare."
"Very likely," responded the wife, "unless the man has it in it."
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
Song
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Mother Love
Childhood Nostalgia
Lullaby
Grief
Toil Tears
Echoless Shore
Poem Details
Title
"Rock Me To Sleep."
Key Lines
Backward, Turn Backward, O Time, In Your Flight,
Make Me A Child Again Just For To Night!
Mother, Come Back From The Echoless Shore,
Take Me Again To Your Heart As Of Yore;
Rock Me To Sleep, Mother, Rock Me To Sleep!
No Love Like Mother Love Ever Has Shone;
No Other Worship Abides And Endures,
Faithful, Unselfish, And Patient Like Yours: