'Lullaby' Summary

In “Lullaby,” Alcott’s speaker, a mother, recalls singing lullabies to her son as a baby. The poem’s rhythm mimics the soothing cadence of a lullaby, drawing the reader into the speaker’s gentle yet melancholic memories. The speaker describes the child’s innocent sleep, the comforting presence of the moon, and the simple joys of nature that filled their days. The poem shifts, however, as the speaker acknowledges her son’s growth and the passage of time. She remembers a day when he first left her side, no longer a child but a young man venturing into the world. The speaker recognizes the bittersweet nature of this transition, acknowledging both the joy of her son's independence and the pain of his absence. The poem concludes with a tender message of love and the enduring power of memories, a testament to the enduring bond between mother and child.