Lullaby by Amy Ella Blanchard (1891)
A rhythmic, playful verse centers on a caregiver’s determined attempt to coax a child into sleep. The speaker surveys a whimsical array of imagined remedies—poppies, raindrops, and shifting shadows—as potential agents to soothe the child awake with both gentle absurdity and affectionate command. The repetitive, almost incantatory structure emphasizes the ritualistic quality of bedtime, where the transition from wakefulness to sleep is depicted as both a natural process and a carefully orchestrated performance. The text blends lighthearted admonition with tender creativity, presenting a microcosm of the challenges and delights of lulling a restless infant into a state of peaceful dreams. Imagery drawn from nature and fleeting moments underscores a universal longing for rest and the transformative power of quiet, soothing routines.
By Amy Ella Blanchard · First published 1891 · Genre: Children's Literature, Nursery Rhyme, Poetry · 161 words
First lines
Wide awake! wide awake! baby's so wide awake, / What can I bring that will lull her to rest? / Poppies from Flowerland, / Raindrops from Showerland, / Silent slow shadows that creep up the west.
Laughings, and cooings, oh what roguish doings, / Why this is sleepy-time, baby, you know. / What can I bring to her? / What can I sing to her? / So that my baby to dreamland may go.
Lullaby, lullaby, sing a song dull, oh bye / Bye little baby, now shut up your eyes, / Moon shadowed now's the land, / Dreams come from drowsy land, / Droop dreamy eyelids and lie sleepy wise.
What this Textopian page supports
Lullaby is listed on Textopian as a poem by Amy Ella Blanchard, dated 1891 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Amy Ella Blanchard
- Date: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Nursery Rhyme, Poetry, Musical Lullaby
- Length: 161 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Lullaby by Amy Ella Blanchard
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Children's Literature — The work is designed to soothe and entertain young listeners with simple, comforting language and engaging imagery.
- Nursery Rhyme — The rhythmic, repetitive verses and playful tone are characteristic of traditional nursery rhymes.
- Poetry — The text employs poetic devices and a structured verse format that distinguish it as a work of poetry.
- Musical Lullaby — The content and intent to induce sleep through gentle, melodious language align with the musical aspects of a lullaby.
Tags
thriller · mystery · psychological · suspense · drama · romance · dark · intense · intrigue · emotion · betrayal · loss