Sweet dreams form a shade,
O'er my lovely infants head.
Sweet dreams of pleasant streams,
By happy silent moony beams
Sweet sleep with soft down.
Weave thy brows an infant crown.
Sweet sleep Angel mild,
Hover o'er my happy child.
Sweet smiles in the night,
Hover over my delight.
Sweet smiles Mothers smiles,
All the livelong night beguiles.
Sweet moans, dovelike sighs,
Chase not slumber from thy eyes,
Sweet moans, sweeter smiles,
All the dovelike moans beguiles.
Sleep sleep happy child,
All creation slept and smil'd.
Sleep sleep, happy sleep.
While o'er thee thy mother weep
Sweet babe in thy face,
Holy image I can trace.
Sweet babe once like thee.
Thy maker lay and wept for me
Wept for me for thee for all,
When he was an infant small.
Thou his image ever see.
Heavenly face that smiles on thee,
Smiles on thee on me on all,
Who became an infant small,
Infant smiles are His own smiles,
Heaven & earth to peace beguiles.
Back to William Blake
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Comments2This piece really paints the picture of pure innocence and love. The lines "Sleep sleep, happy sleep / While o'er thee thy mother weep" really got to me.
Jst finished reading this poem for an assignment, not bad at all. Rly like the part "Sweet smiles Mothers smiles, All the livelong night beguiles." Very soothing and comforting. One thing tho, why does the mother weeps over her sleeping child? Isn't it supposed to be a happy moment? I don't get it.
William Blake was a mystic. I would guess that the Mother(Nature) weeping for their children(all beings) because they are lost(not knowing their true nature).