Answer to “Rock Me to Sleep, Mother.”

Answer to “Rock Me to Sleep, Mother.”
384.7

My child, oh my child, thou art weary tonight!
Thy spirit is sad and dim is the light
Thou wouldst call me back from the echolest shore
To the trials of life, to thy heart, as of yore;
Thou longest again for my fond, loving care,
For my kiss on thy cheek, for my hand on thy hair:
But angels around thee, their loving watch keep.
And angels, my darling, will rock thee to sleep.

Backward? Nay, onward, ye swift rolling years1
Gird on thy armor, keep back thy tears;
Count not thy trials is nor efforts in vain;
They’ll bring thee the light of thy childhood again:
Thou shouldst not weary, my child, by the way.
But watch for the light of that brighter day:
Not tired of sowing for others to reap,
For angels, my darling, will rock thee to sleep.

Tired, my child, of the base, the untrue?
I have tasted the cup they have given to you;
I’ve felt the deep sorrow in living green
Of a low money grave by a silvery stream:
But the dear mother I there sought in vain
Is an angel’s presence, and with me again:
And in the still night, from silence so deep
Come the bright angels to rock me to sleep.

Nearer thee now than in days that are flown;
Purer the love light enctreling thy home;
Far more enduring the watch for tonight,
Than ever earth worship away from the light.
Soon the dark shadows will finger no more,
Nor come to thy call from the opening door;
But know thou, my child, that the angels watch keop,
And soon, very soon, they’ll rock thee to sleep.

They’ll wing thee to sleen with a soothing song.
And, waking, thou’ll be with a heavenly throne:
And the life, with its toll and its care and its pain,
Thou wilt then see has not been in vain.
Thou wilt meet those in bliss whom on earth thou didat love,
And whom thou hast tonight in the mensions above.
Never hereafter to suffer or weep-
The angels, my derling, will rock thee to sleep.