7.16.2011

Lullaby Town

I woke up this morning craving innocence. Innocence like a disney movie, or chocolate chip cookies from mom. But considering I couldn't get either of these, I read. My Grandma gave me this poetry book from the 60’s titled – “The Best Loved Poems of the American People.” In my search I opened to a random page and found this poem, ‘Lullaby Town’ by John Irving Diller. Apparently the American people are craving innocence too. Enjoy.

Lullaby Town.

There’s a quaint little place they call Lullaby Town.

It’s just back of those hills where the sunsets go down.

It’s streets are of silver, it’s buildings of gold,

And it’s palaces dazzling things to behold;

There are dozens of spires, housing musical chimes;

It’s people are folk from the Nursery Rimes,

And at night it’s alight, like a garden of gleams,

With fairies, who bring the most wonderful dreams.

The Sandman is Mayor, and he rules like a King.

The climate’s so balmy that, always, it’s spring,

And it’s never too cold, and it’s never too hot,

And I’m told that there’s nowhere a prettier spot;

All in and about it are giant old trees,

Filled with radiant birds that will sing when you please;

But the strange thing about it – this secret, pray, keep –

Is, it never awakes till the world is asleep.

So when night settles down, all its lights snap aglow,

And it’s streets fill with people who dance to and fro.

Mother Goose, Old King Cole and his fiddlers three,

Miss Muffet, Jack Sprat and his wife, scamper free,

With a whole host of others, a boisterous crew,

Not forgetting the Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe

And her troublesome brood who, with brownie and sprite,

Go trooping the streets, a bewildering sight.

There’s a peddler who carries, strapped high on his back,

A bundle. Now, guess what he has in that pack.

There’s a crowd all about him a-buying his wares,

And they’re grabbing his goods up in threes and in pairs.

No, he’s not peddling jams nor delectable creams.

Would you know what he’s selling? Just wonderful dreams!

There are dreams for a penny and dreams that cost two;

And there’s no two alike, and they’re sure to come true;

And the buyers fare off with a toss of the head,

And they visit the Sandman, then hie them to bed;

For there’s nothing to do in this land of Bo-Peep,

But to frolic and sing and then go off to sleep!

6 comments:

  1. I have a sounds of nature CD that has rain and thunderstorms, some pretty music and a fellow reading this poem verbatim, with a pronounced
    Canadian accent. It's one of my favorites. Thank you for posting this. paj692

    ReplyDelete
  2. I too have the previously mentioned Thundering Rainstorm CD & this poem has intrigued me for a long time. This CD puts me to sleep most nights & when I am still awake when the poem comes on I really enjoy it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have been looking everywhere for the name of this cd. Please help. Thanks!

      Delete
  3. Where do I get this CD I had it years ago and can't find it now...HELP PLEASE!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ultimate in Relaxation; The Thunderstorm-Country Stream paj692

    ReplyDelete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete