# Bedtime explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald.

## What happens

The poem contrasts the bedtime routine of children, who reluctantly obey the call to sleep, with the watchful patience of adults who stay up late, busy with tasks, awaiting the Father's gentle arrival to carry them to bed.

## Themes in this chapter

### Childhood and Innocence

The children's reluctant obedience and the imagery of toys and kites evoke a pure, innocent stage of life.

### Divine Fatherhood

The Father's gentle tread and act of carrying to bed symbolize God's loving care and guidance.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator addresses the children and then includes themselves among the 'elder ones' who wait for the Father.

### Love

Referred to as 'the Father' who comes with soft tread to carry the adults to bed, symbolizing divine care.

## Key lines

> Come, children, put away your toys; Roll up that kite’s long line; The day is done for girls and boys⁠— Look, it is almost nine!

Children, it's time to stop playing and put your toys away; the day is over and it's nearly nine o'clock.

_The call to bedtime marks the end of daytime activities._

> We, elder ones, sit up more late, And tasks unfinished ply, But, gently busy, watch and wait⁠— Dear sister, you and I, To hear the Father, with soft tread, Coming to carry us to bed.

We adults stay up later, working on unfinished tasks, but we quietly keep busy and wait for the Father to come gently and carry us to bed.

_The adults' anticipation of the Father's arrival mirrors a spiritual longing for divine rest._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/bedtime
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters