Sunday, November 13, 2022

LULLABY

by William Aarnes


“Lullaby,” lithograph by Henry Moore (1973) via Henry Moore Foundation collection.


for Hale 
 
Sleep, child; we hope       
you stay unharmed 
while you grow wise, 
while you grow wise.   
 
Your mother hopes 
you stay unharmed 
though forests burn    
and oceans rise.            
                                      
Your father hopes 
you stay unharmed 
though despots rule 
with goons and lies.    
 
Your parents hope 
you stay unharmed  
though wars drag on
with drone-filled skies 
 
Sleep, child; we hope 
we stay unharmed  
till you’ve grown wise, 
till you’ve grown wise. 


William Aarnes lives in New York.