A Variation on “To Say To Go To Sleep” (op. 22, no. 3)

A Variation on “To Say To Go To Sleep”

By Randall Jarrell

If I could, I would sing you to sleep.

I would give you my hand to keep

In yours till you fell asleep,

And take it away then, slowly.

I would sit by you and be.

In the world the dark would be deep.

I would watch. And at last I would sleep.

But if rain should star the stream

Of your sleep, I would whisper: “See

You are asleep”; and slowly,

Your breath would change in your dream

Till, ages and ages deep

In the dark, you would say to me:

“I love you.”

I love you,

But I am here always. Sleep now. Sleep.