Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Promises: 12. Lullaby: Smile in Sleep," Robert Penn Warren captures the delicate interplay between innocence and the harsh realities of the world, using the image of a sleeping child to explore themes of hope, renewal, and the promise of the future. The poem is framed as a lullaby, with the speaker—a father or caretaker—encouraging the child to dream and find peace in sleep, while also acknowledging the challenges and disappointments that lie ahead. The poem balances the tender moments of parenthood with the weight of existential reflection, offering both comfort and a sobering recognition of life’s complexities.

The poem begins with a gentle, soothing command: "Sleep, my son, and smile in sleep. / You will dream the world anew." This opening line sets the tone for the entire piece, suggesting that the child’s dreams hold the potential to reshape and renew the world. The act of sleep, typically a time of rest and regeneration, is imbued with a deeper significance—it becomes a metaphor for the possibility of creating a better future. As the speaker watches the child sleep, he feels the "world's depleted force renew," sensing an almost magical restoration of energy, spirit, and hope. The "rustle in the blood" and the "wink of warmth" signify the stirring of life and vitality, as though the child’s innocence and potential have the power to reinvigorate the weary adult world.

Warren uses the natural imagery of spring to reinforce this sense of renewal: "As though season woke in the heart's cold underwood. / The vernal work is now begun." The reference to "vernal work" suggests that the child’s sleep is akin to the arrival of spring, a time when nature awakens and new growth begins. This metaphor positions the child as a source of new life and possibilities, embodying the hope that the future may bring renewal and transformation.

However, the poem quickly acknowledges the inevitable suffering and violence that the child will encounter as he grows: "You will see the nestling fall. / Blood flecks grass of the rabbit form." These lines remind the reader that the natural world, while beautiful, is also filled with cruelty and death. The child will witness "the world's brute ox-heel wrong, and shrewd hand-harm," suggesting that injustice and cruelty are an inescapable part of life. Warren does not shy away from the darker aspects of human existence, noting that "Throats are soft to invite the blade" and "Truth invites the journalist's lie." These stark images highlight the vulnerability of both innocence and truth in a world that often seems indifferent or hostile.

Despite this grim reality, the speaker implores the child to "Dream perfection" and to hold onto the possibility of grace and goodness. The dream serves as both an escape from and a preparation for the harshness of the real world. The speaker acknowledges that love will sometimes lead to betrayal—"Love bestowed mourns trust betrayed"—but insists that the heart's greatest sorrow comes from its own failures. This recognition places a profound responsibility on the child: the greater the challenges he will face, the greater his obligation to rise above them and strive for perfection, even if that ideal may never be fully realized.

The poem introduces the image of a diver leaping from a board, "hung at gleam-height in his sky," as a metaphor for the child’s potential and the trajectory of his life. The diver’s "trajectory is toward / An image hung perfect as light in the mind's wide eye," symbolizing the pursuit of an ideal that, though elusive, guides the individual toward a higher purpose. The speaker urges the child to dream of this perfection now, suggesting that the act of dreaming itself is an essential part of realizing human potential. In dreaming, the child "serves" not only himself but also his caretaker, giving hope and a renewed sense of possibility to the adult world.

Warren's invocation of "Grace undreamed is grace forgone" underscores the importance of maintaining a vision of grace and goodness, even in the face of adversity. The speaker encourages the child to "Dream grace, son," emphasizing that without the dream of grace, it cannot be achieved or experienced. The lullaby continues with a serene image of sleep as a "sunlit meadow / Drowsy with a dream of bees." The bees, "threading sun," are symbols of industry and harmony, creating a sweet and peaceful environment in which the child can rest and dream. The "murmurous bees of sleep" become metaphors for the quiet but persistent work of the unconscious mind, building something sweet and sustaining "in honeycomb" that will nourish the child in the future.

As the poem progresses, Warren acknowledges the external threats that may arise—"What if angry vectors veer / Around your sleeping head, and form?"—but reassures the child that there is no need to fear. The "abstract storm" of the world, with its violence and chaos, cannot touch the child while he dreams, because in sleep, the child is connected to a deeper reality. This reality is one in which "Matter groans to touch your hand" and "Matter now lifts like the sea / Toward that cold moon that is your dream's command." These lines suggest that the child’s dreams possess a kind of cosmic power, capable of shaping and influencing the physical world.

The poem concludes with a reaffirmation of the child’s strength and potential: "Dream the power coming on. / Dream, strong son. / Sleep on." The speaker’s final words convey both love and hope, as the child’s dreams are seen as the source of future strength and transformation. Warren’s lullaby is not just a soothing song to help the child sleep—it is a meditation on the power of dreams, the resilience of the human spirit, and the potential for renewal that lies in each new generation.

In "Promises: 12. Lullaby: Smile in Sleep," Robert Penn Warren masterfully blends tenderness with philosophical reflection, using the act of sleep and dreaming as a metaphor for the possibility of growth, renewal, and grace. The poem acknowledges the harsh realities of the world, but it also emphasizes the importance of holding onto dreams of perfection, even in the face of disappointment and betrayal. Through rich imagery and a tone that balances warmth with gravity, Warren offers a vision of hope for the future, embodied in the innocent, dreaming child who represents the promise of what is yet to come.

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