Poetry · Chapter
To a Babe Smiling in Her Sleep explained
A tender poem addressing a sleeping infant, imagining that angels visit her dreams with visions of a heavenly city, fountains, and healing trees, and praying that divine guidance will surround her throughout life.
What happens
A tender poem addressing a sleeping infant, imagining that angels visit her dreams with visions of a heavenly city, fountains, and healing trees, and praying that divine guidance will surround her throughout life.
Themes in this chapter
Hope and Redemption
The poem envisions a heavenly city and healing for wounded nations, offering hope beyond earthly suffering.
Faith and Divine Justice
Angels and God's guidance are invoked as protectors, implying divine care and ultimate justice.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The speaker addresses the babe with gentle, reverent questions about angelic visitations and heavenly visions.
Key passages
“Tell me, did the angels greet thee? Greet my darling when she smiled?”
Did angels visit you and make you smile, my dear child?
The speaker wonders if the baby's smile is a sign of angelic presence.
“Of the city, ruby-founded, Built on gems of flashing light, Paling all earth’s lustrous jewels, And the gates of pearly white?”
Of the heavenly city with foundations of ruby and gates of pearl, far more beautiful than any earthly treasure?
The poem describes the New Jerusalem from the Book of Revelation.
“Darling, when life’s shadows deepen Round thy prison-house of clay, May the footsteps of God’s angels Ever linger round thy way.”
My dear, when life becomes difficult and your body feels like a prison, may angels always watch over you.
A prayer for divine protection through life's trials.