Classic Poem

Ten months had passed since rosy Herakles
Had opened wondering eyes unto the sun,
When, in the sloping light of summer's eve,
Alcmena, mother of the little twins,
The hero and his brother fair to see,
Bared her soft breasts, as all our mothers did,
In tender love, and gave her boys their food;
And having laved them in the mellow stream,
She laid them down within Amphytrion's shield —
A half sphere of bright brass by bold blows won
From slaughtered Pterilaus — then, with hands,
Like blush-rose petals, on the head of each,
In tones like cithern-echoes, thus she sang:

" Sleep, my boys, in gentle dewy sleep,
Until the dawn in glowing beauty peep
To call the hours from out the night's dark deep
Into the light.
Sleep, for the day has sunk in the red west;
Sleep, 'neath the mother-heart that loves you best;
Sleep, sleep, and peaceful, peaceful be your rest
Till dark is light.
Anemones and roses drop their leaves
In silent night, but still the ocean heaves;
And so my heart fresh waves of love receives.
Through all the night.
My other self in two, my heart in two,
Sleep happy, and wake joyous. Oh, for you
I pray the gods to give me all I sue
Through day and night! "
And as sea-nymphs soft toss a favored boat,
She rocked the buckler, singing as it moved.