Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-05-03
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ROCK ME TO SLEEP, MOTHER.

ROCK ME TO SLEEP, MOTHER.
Backward, flow backward o full tide of yearsi
lam so weary of tolls and of tears
Toll without recompensc-tears all in vain,
Take them and give me my childhood again.
have grown weary Of dust and decay
Weary of flnging my hearts wealth away
Weary Of sowing for others to reap;
Rock me to sleep, mother rock me to sleep.
flushed be my sighing-I see through the mist
Loved ones that cheer me, and silently list;
Hark tits the hymning of angelic song,
Joyfuly leading my sad heart along;
Treading the grass that now weeps on your grave,
Let me in spirit your sweet presence crave:
This will now cheer me. no more will weep;
Rock me to Sleep mother, rock me to sleep
Clouded and sabled, there come with my age
Records of sadness to soil the fair page
Footprints of sorrow to blot it all DER,
Thinking Of those on the echoless shore
Only, see you look down on me now,
While humbly kneeling, at His cross bow
Come then and dry up the tears must weep;
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep.
AS stars in the day are concealed by the light,
And darkness unveils them alone to the sight,
So, sleeping, see you-unseen when awake;
And welcome, thrice welcome, is sleep for your
sake.
Soft are my slumbers; a glory of beams,
Announcing your coming, illumines my dreams
Visit me nightly, and when would weep,
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep.
Backward, turn backward, then, time in your
flight;
Make me child again, just for tonight;
Mother, come back from the echoless shore,
Take me again to your heart as of yore,
Kiss from my forehead the burrows 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.
Over my heart in bright days that are flown
No love like mother-love ever has shone;
No other worship abides and endures-
Faithful unsel1sh and patient, like yours;
None like a mother can charm away pain
From the sick soul and the world. weary brain;
Slumber's soft Gains DER my heavy ids creep,
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me t Sleep
Tired of the hollow, the base, the unit ne,
Mother, dear mother, my heart calls for you;
Many summer the grass has grown green,
Yet with strong yearning and passionate pain,
Long tonight for your presence again;
Come from The silence SO long and so deep,
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep.
Mother, dear mother, the days have been long,
Since last hushed to your lullaby song;
Sing it, and unto my soul it shall seem
Manhood's long years have been only dream.
Clasped to your heart In loving embrace,
With your light lashes just sweeping my face,
Never hereafter to sigh or to weep,
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep.
Come, let your brown hair, just lighted with gold
Fall on your shoulders again as of old
Let it fall over my forehead tonight,
Shading my faint eyes away from the light
for with its sunny -edged shadows once more
Fondly will throng the sweet visions OF yore--
Lovingly, softly its charmed pillows weep
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep.
Angelic mother, now tenderly smile,
While fond seraphs my soul shall beguile;
Shed DER my pathway the spirit worlds light
To guide and 10 cheer me all through the night.
have grown weary sflifes changing tide
Weary OF weeping for hopes that have died,
Weary of climbing life's hillside so steep:
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep.
Tired Of earth's mockery and the worlds strife
Tired Of the penances paid for this life,
Growing more weary of heartiess display,
Weary OF the worlds night.-I long for the day
Let, then, your spirit encompass me now,
While on your bosom in silence bow;
Tsnderly watching my thoughts they sweep,
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep.
Thoughts cannot lnger around the cold tomb
Sweet spirit faces will break through its gloom
And when wipe the fresh tear-drops away,
Clouds turn to brightness, and roseate day
Breaks on my vision; them smiling again,
Peace spreads her gentle wings softly to reign;
Voices celestial forbid me TO weep;
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep.
Stilled are my tumults; / see in the sky
Loved ones whose splendors have drowned every
sigh,
Faces familiar of friends here no more,
Fairer and fonder than ever before
Glorihed figures that stoop to caress,
Mighty to comfort and mighty to bless;
Bright is the yision-no more can weep;
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep.
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to rest;
Claimed with your smiling the storm in my breast;
stilled are the sorrows you come to allay;
Teach me again as Of old how to pray;
Contentious without, contentious within,
Battlings with doubt and temptations and sin
Ceased with your presence; / cannot now weep;
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep
Thus with my loved ones I'll watch by your side
Nor weep once again, whatever betide,
Waiting all calmly the coming of those
Holding the sisnet o: deaths cold repose.
Farewell to sorrow, farewell to all ILL
Whispers are stealing, sad heart be now still;
With my dear mother, kind watch will keep
She charges the angels to rock me to sleep.
Florence Percy.