Seal Lullaby

Within the context of a lullaby poem, the moon’s significance lies mostly in its association with night and sleep. But the moon in poetry can function as a representation of interiority and reflection; in this poem, and in other lullabies, a mother sings to a child about identity and community. The familiar terrain, the identification of deep fears, and the assurance of safety all help the listening child feel a sense of autonomy and belonging. The child feels accepted and safe as the moon looks over them in the third line. The moon also represents the child’s own life cycle from infancy to adulthood; just as a child develops and grows, so does the moon as it progresses through phases. This child, new to the world, will grow as the moon does, both adapting to its environment and influencing it as the moon moves the tides and changes with the seasons.

For a seal, the waves become all kinds of terrain. In line 2, the “waters that sparkled so green” in daylight stand in for the land that is more familiar to human children. The “combers” (Line 3) over which the moon watches take the place of tall trees or clouds in which the moon nestles from its position in the sky.