LESSON 69 THE ROCK-A-BY LADY

THE ROCK-A-BY LADY

steal-ing pop-pies blow-eth

creep-ing beau-ti-ful sil-ver-y

laugh-ter fai-ries go-eth

1. The Rock-a-By Lady from Hushaby Street

　　Comes stealing; comes creeping;

　The poppies 〔1〕 they hang from her head to her feet,

　And each hath a dream that is tiny and fleet—

　She bringeth her poppies to you, my sweet,

　　When she findeth you sleeping!

2. There is one little dream of a beautiful drum—

　　"Rub-a-dub!" it goeth;

　There is one little dream of a big sugar-plum,

　And lo! thick and fast the other dreams come

　Of pop-guns that bang, and tin-tops that hum,

　　And a trumpet that bloweth!

3. And dollies peep out of those wee little dreams

　　With laughter and singing;

　And boats go a-floating on silvery streams,

　And the stars peek-a-boo with their own misty gleams 〔2〕 ,

　And up, up, and up, where the Mother Moon beams 〔3〕 ,

　　The fairies go winging 〔4〕 !

4. Would you dream all these dreams that are tiny and fleet 〔5〕 ?

　　They'll come to you sleeping;

　So shut the two eyes that are weary, my sweet,

　For the Rock-a-By Lady from Hushaby Street,

　With poppies that hang from her head to her feet,

　　Comes stealing; comes creeping.

—EUGENE FIELD

注释

〔1〕 poppies: The scent of the poppies is supposed to bring sleep.

〔2〕 gleams: Beams of light.

〔3〕 beams: Shines forth.

〔4〕 winging: Flying hither and thither.

〔5〕 fleet: Passing swiftly.