Sleep, Sleep, My Little One

Sleep, sleep, my little one ‘Tis better in this world of us To sleep the sleep of the innocents Than sleep the sleep of the just: At least you’ll have a greater chance To avoid long knives and plots And bloody rendezvous. For in this world, this world of us The just is alien and his sleep Most dangerous negligence: Long knives will wait at corners round And plots and darts abound For all the just around. For in this world, this world of us, The sleep of innocents is better than The sleep of all the just, my little one. Sleep, sleep, my little one And let outside the dark wind neigh And rain and chill make fear And the sea’s waves make storm and rage And evil win And the good disappear And do not open your eyes sweet one Before night and storm have passed away.