Class 4 :: English Literature :: Lullaby by Alan Norman Bold (Mulberry English Course Book)

Lullaby

by Alan Norman Bold (Mulberry English Course Book)

The Poem :

"Close your eyes gently

  And cuddle in

  Keep yourself snug,

  A new day will begin.

  Have pleasant dreams about

  Those things you love,

  Sleep is an island

  Waiting above.

  Night is a blanket

  Keeping you warm

  If you close eyes you can

  Come to no harm.

  Dreams are like journeys

  Drifting along.

  Rest is a present

  Keeping you strong."

Summary of the Poem :

A lullaby is a song that is gentle and restful. It is usually sung to help children sleep. The words of a lullaby are usually simple and repetitive. Lullabies have existed since ancient times and are sung all over the world in different languages.

A child is said to cuddle in a warm and safe position closing its eyes gently. This will help him to sleep and he will arise in the next new day.

He will be in the island of sleep soon. He will dream about his favourite things.

The night is like a warm blanket for him. He will be safe and secure while being in the land of sleep. No harm can come to him.

Dreams will take him to many journeys. They will drift him to new lands. But sleep is a form of taking rest. This will re-energize the child and make him strong.

MAKING CONNECTIONs

1. The poem is a lullaby. Which of these words would we include in a morning song? Circle them.

[close; gently; cuddle; snug; pleasant; dreams; sleep; blanket; warm; journeys; rest; strong]

= gently; pleasant; warm; journeys; strong;

2. Read these lines and answer the questions that follow.

Close your eyes gently

  And cuddle in

  Keep yourself snug,

  A new day will begin.

  Have pleasant dreams about

  Those things you love,

  Sleep is an island

  Waiting above.

a. The first stanza describes three things that we usually do when we go to bed. What are they?

= The first stanza describes three things that we usually do when we go to bed. They are -

i) We close our eyes.

ii) We cuddle in.

iii) We keep ourselves snug.

b. What is sleep compared to? Why do you think the poet uses this comparison?

= Sleep is compared to an island.

I think the poet uses this comparison because we do not know anything when we sleep. We go to an unknown world while sleeping.

c. What are the things you like to dream about?

= I would like to dream about the land of cartoons, the land of chocolates and unlimited games.

3. Why does the poet say dreams are like journeys?

= The poet says dreams are like journeys because we drift in an another world while being in the state of sleep. It takes us to the utopia of our favourite things. Sometimes it takes us to the world of our dislike. It is horrifying also. We return from all these as soon as we woke up from sleep. The journey ends like this.

4. What does sleep gift us with?

= Sleep gifts us with rest which makes us strong.

5. Do you like this lullaby? Give reasons for your answer.

= Yes, I do like this lullaby.

This is a pleasant lullaby. It is very gentle and restful. It so helps us to sleep. It is written in simple and repetitive words. This is so very pleasant to listen to and fall asleep.

About the Poet :

Alan Norman Bold (1943-1998) was a Scottish poet born in Edinburgh. He was a biographer and journalist. He also published a biography of Robert Burns in 1973.