Poetry · Chapter
Hesitation explained
The speaker is tasked with waking a child from a nap but hesitates, observing the child's joyful sleep and imagining the pleasant dreams they might be having.
What happens
The speaker is tasked with waking a child from a nap but hesitates, observing the child's joyful sleep and imagining the pleasant dreams they might be having. The speaker reflects on the cruelty of interrupting such bliss and hopes the boss would also delay the duty if they saw the child's happiness.
Themes in this chapter
Innocence and Growth
The child's innocent, joyful sleep and the speaker's protective reluctance to disturb it highlight the theme of childhood innocence.
Domestic Life
The scene of a child napping and the speaker's duty to wake them reflects everyday domestic routines and care.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The speaker who is reluctant to wake the child from a joyful nap.
- Young Stranger
The child sleeping peacefully, described as a 'little chap' with blissful dreams.
Key passages
“I’ve orders to waken you from your nap, And orders are orders, my little chap. But I hate to do it, because it seems A shame to break in on your blissful dreams.”
I've been told to wake you from your nap, and I must follow orders, little one. But I really don't want to, because it feels wrong to interrupt your happy dreams.
The speaker expresses reluctance to follow orders and wake the child due to the child's apparent happiness.
“Maybe you have for your very own A piece of pie or an ice cream cone; If that’s your amusement, why end it quick? Dream-food can’t possibly make you sick.”
Perhaps you're dreaming of having a piece of pie or an ice cream cone all to yourself; if that's what you're enjoying, why stop it? Dream food won't make you ill.
The speaker imagines the child's pleasant dreams and rationalizes not waking them.