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Conclusion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2015

Kim Huynh ,
Bina D'Costa  and
Katrina Lee-Koo
Kim Huynh
Affiliation:
Australian National University, Canberra
Bina D'Costa
Affiliation:
Australian National University, Canberra
Katrina Lee-Koo
Affiliation:
Australian National University, Canberra
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Summary

William Ross Wallace's (1819–1881) poem, ‘The Hand that Rocks the Cradle is the Hand that Rules the World’ glorifies motherhood as a divine mission of ‘strength and grace’. The infant in Wallace's poem is almost entirely invisible and inert. It is mentioned only once when likened to a ‘tender fountain’. This concluding poem asks us to consider how children rock the cradle in their own right and how they might rule the world in their own way.

The cradle it rocks

Against

My best wishes,

Our best efforts,

its best interests.

The cradle it rocks.

From inside,

it stirs.

Breaching the crib to

Slap my cheek,

Blubber my lips,

Chatter my teeth.

its shrewd little hands,

Like butterfly wings,

Stroking my hair,

Molesting my lids.

The cradle it rocks.

Outside,

The world stirs.

Oblivious it is

To conflict and slurs.

To small arms new wars

And gasses uprising.

Soon it will emerge

With virtue admiring,

With justice by sceptre

By sword and by shield.

The cradle it rocks.

We cannot

But yield.

Type
Chapter
Information
Children and Global Conflict , pp. 282 - 283
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2015

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  • Conclusion
  • Kim Huynh, Australian National University, Canberra, Bina D'Costa, Australian National University, Canberra, Katrina Lee-Koo, Australian National University, Canberra
  • Book: Children and Global Conflict
  • Online publication: 05 May 2015
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139854573.011
Available formats
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  • Conclusion
  • Kim Huynh, Australian National University, Canberra, Bina D'Costa, Australian National University, Canberra, Katrina Lee-Koo, Australian National University, Canberra
  • Book: Children and Global Conflict
  • Online publication: 05 May 2015
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139854573.011
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Conclusion
  • Kim Huynh, Australian National University, Canberra, Bina D'Costa, Australian National University, Canberra, Katrina Lee-Koo, Australian National University, Canberra
  • Book: Children and Global Conflict
  • Online publication: 05 May 2015
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139854573.011
Available formats
×