Sleeping by Willa Cather (1900)
The work presents a poetic meditation on the proper timing and reverence for sleep. It juxtaposes the natural order of day and night with the rhythms of human life, emphasizing that actual sleep should occur during the night. The imagery of the sun as a “mighty great candle” being withdrawn at day’s end, and the sky being draped with a curtain from which stars emerge, serves as a metaphor for the orderly transition from wakefulness to sleep. This natural progression is extended to depict a familial ritual: a small child’s bedtime is approached with both tenderness and ritual care, as prayers are softly offered and angels are beckoned to guard the child’s sleep. The work conveys that sleep is not merely a biological necessity but a sacred, structured, and protective state, aligning human life with the orderly movements of the cosmos. The lyrical tone combines instructive guidance with affectionate imagery, suggesting that proper sleep is essential for well-being and is founded upon both natural laws and caring domestic customs.
By Willa Cather · First published 1900 · Genre: Poetry, Lullaby, Children's Literature · 191 words
First lines
DO all your sleeping at night, / For then niddy-noddy is right; / But awake you must keep, / And it won't do to sleep, / In the middle of broad daylight.
The sun at the end of the day / Takes his mighty great candle away; / A curtain on high / Is drawn over the sky, / And the stars peep thro' if they may.
There's the curtain of night over all, / There's our own window-curtain so small, / And least in their size, / Over Emily's eyes / Her fringed little eyelids will fall.
She kneels at the side of her bed, / And softly her prayers are said; / Now, a kiss, my Dear; / Come, Angels, near, / And keep watch round the little one's bed.
What this Textopian page supports
Sleeping is listed on Textopian as a poem by Willa Cather, 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: Willa Cather
- Date: 1900 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lullaby, Children's Literature
- Length: 191 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Sleeping by Willa Cather
- 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
- Poetry — The work is composed in verse with a clear rhyme scheme and meter, characteristics typical of poetry.
- Lullaby — The theme centers on sleep with soothing language and imagery, resembling a lullaby intended to calm and comfort.
- Children's Literature — The simple language, rhythmic structure, and bedtime themes align with works aimed at young audiences.
Tags
introspection · dreams · symbolism · existentialism · psychology · reverie · mysticism · identity · transformation · subconscious · passage of time · reflexivity