2

I awoke from sleep, I awoke from sleep,
Up I rose from my grave so deep! 
The earth was black, but overhead
The stars were yellow, the moon was red;
And I walk’d along all white and thin,
And lifted the latch and enter’d in,
And reached the chamber as dark as night,
And though it was dark, my face was white: 
“Mother, Mother, I look on thee! 
Mother, Mother, you frighten me! 
For your cheeks are thin and your hair is gray!”
But I smiled and kissed her fears away,
I smooth’d her hair and I sang a song,
And on my knee I rocked her long: 
“O Mother, Mother, sing low to me—­
I am sleepy now, and I cannot see!”
I kissed her, but I could not weep,
And she went to sleep, and she went to sleep.

3

As we lay asleep, as we lay asleep,
My May and I, in our grave so deep,
As we lay asleep in the midnight mirk,
Under the shade of Our Lady’s Kirk,
I waken’d up in the dead of night,
Though May my daughter lay warm and white,
For I heard the cry of a little one,
And I knew ’twas the voice of Hugh my son: 
“Mother, Mother, come hither to me;
Mother, Mother, come hither and see! 
Mother, Mother, Mother dear,
Another Mother is sitting here: 
My body is bruised and my heart is sad,
But I speak my mind and call them bad;
I thirst and hunger night and day,
And were I strong I would fly away!”
I heard the cry, though my grave was deep,
And awoke from sleep, and awoke from sleep!

4

I awoke from sleep, I awoke from sleep,
Up I rose from my grave so deep,
The earth was black, but overhead
The stars were yellow, the moon was red;
And I walk’d along all white and thin,
And lifted the latch and enter’d in. 
“Mother, Mother, and art thou here? 
I know your face and I feel no fear;
Raise me, Mother, and kiss my cheek,
For oh I am weary and sore and weak.” 
I smoothed his hair with a mother’s joy,
And he laugh’d aloud, my own brave boy: 
I raised and held him on my breast,
Sang him a song, and bade him rest. 
“Mother, Mother, sing low to me—­
I am sleepy now and I cannot see!”
I kissed him and I could not weep,
As he went to sleep, as he went to sleep.

5

As I lay asleep, as I lay asleep,
With my girl and boy in my grave so deep,
As I lay asleep, I awoke in fear,
Awoke, but awoke not my children dear,
And I heard a cry so low and weak
From a tiny voice that could not speak;
I heard the cry of a little one,
My bairn that could neither talk nor run,
My little, little one, uncaress’d,
Starving for lack of the milk of the breast;
And I rose from sleep and enter’d in,
And found my little one, pinch’d and thin,
And croon’d a song, and hush’d its moan,
And put its lips to my white breast-bone;
And the red, red moon that lit the place
Went white to look at the little face,
And I kiss’d and kiss’d and I could not weep,
As it went to sleep, as it went to sleep.