The Child Asleep
The Child Asleep - fact Summary
Father's Anxious, Devoted Watch
Longfellow's speaker is a father watching his sleeping child. He praises the child's peaceful innocence, keeps a vigilant, loving watch, and briefly mistakes the child's deep sleep for death, provoking intense fear and relief when the child awakens. The poem mixes tender affection with anxiety and concludes with the father's longing for a future when the son might watch over him in return, underscoring parental devotion and vulnerability.
Read Complete AnalysesSweet babe! true portrait of thy father's face, Sleep on the bosom that thy lips have pressed! Sleep, little one; and closely, gently place Thy drowsy eyelid on thy mother's breast. Upon that tender eye, my little friend, Soft sleep shall come, that cometh not to me! I watch to see thee, nourish thee, defend; 'Tis sweet to watch for thee, alone for thee! His arms fall down; sleep sits upon his brow; His eye is closed; he sleeps, nor dreams of harm. Wore not his cheek the apple's ruddy glow, Would you not say he slept on Death's cold arm? Awake, my boy! I tremble with affright! Awake, and chase this fatal thought! Unclose Thine eye but for one moment on the light! Even at the price of thine, give me repose! Sweet error! he but slept! -- I breathe again; Come, gentle dreams, the hour of sleep beguile! Oh, when shall he, for whom I sigh in vain, Beside me watch to see thy waking smile?
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