Lullaby by Edith Nesbit (1900)
The poem is a lullaby in which a mother sings to her baby, telling it to sleep while it can, for sorrow will come with the dawn of a new day. The mother holds her child close, feeling its breath and holding it tight through the night. She compares her love for her child to Mary's love for Jesus, suggesting that her own love is just as strong.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1900 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure · 293 words
First lines
Sleep, my darling; mother will sing Soft low songs to her little king, Nobody else must listen or hear The pretty secrets I tell my dear.
Sleep, my darling, sleep while you may -- Sorrow dawns with the dawning day, Sleep, my baby, sleep, my dear, Soon enough will the day be here.
Lie here quiet on mother's arm, Safe from harm; Nestled closely to mother's breast, Sleep and rest!
Mother feels your breath's soft stir Close to her; Mother holds you, clasps you tight, All the night.
What this Textopian page supports
Lullaby is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edith Nesbit, dated 1900 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1900 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure
- Length: 293 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Lullaby by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Lullaby?
- How does this poem by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Star by Edith Nesbit
- Morning by Edith Nesbit
- Silence by Edith Nesbit
- The Adventurer by Edith Nesbit
- Septimus Septimusson by Edith Nesbit
- Kenneth And The Carp by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Children's Literature — The story is primarily aimed at young readers, featuring a child protagonist and themes of adventure and imagination.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes magical elements, such as a wish-granting entity, that are characteristic of the fantasy genre.
- Adventure — The plot involves a series of exciting events and challenges that the protagonist must overcome.
Tags
Fantasy · Children's Literature · Short Story · Fiction · British Literature · Classic · Victorian Era · Magical Realism · Dreams · Imagination · Childhood · Nostalgia