A Lullaby
James Agee, Ricky Ian Gordon
Sleep, child, lie quiet, let be:
Now like a still wind, a great tree
Night upon this city moves
Like leaves, our hungers and our loves
Sleep
Sleep, rest easy, while you may
Soon it is day
And elsewhere likewise love is stirred:
Elsewhere the speechless song is heard:
Wherever children sleep or wake
Souls are lifted, hearts break
Sleep
Sleep, be careless while you can
Soon you are man
And everywhere good men contrive
Good reasons not to be alive
And even should they build their best
No man could bear tell you the rest
Sleep
Sleep child, for your parents' sake
Soon you must wake
Soon you must wake
