At first glance , one expects this slim volume, the first collection of Solomon Islands lullabies , produced by the initial Solomon Islands Women Writers workshop in 1980, to contain soothing sounding chants likely to induce slumber. But no. Among the 20 poems, printed in language with English translation, is an apparent mention of blackbirding and a definite echo of the South Pacific war .
One brief four line lullaby tells the baby to sleep and stop crying or else the aeroplane will soon arrive. An explanatory note says after WWll in the Solomon Islands many parents told their children how planes dropped bombs and the baby is told that if it does not go to sleep the planes might come back soon and bombing recommence .
In other, the child is told to go to sleep or the boat with Captain Derry aboard will come and take it away . The big eyes of owls are used to frighten some babies to sleep. Designed to scare children who tease and bully others , another lullaby is about a giant who gets about with a knife looking for teasers to put in a sack.
The missionary influence is reflected in a lullaby which calls on Jesus to protect the sleeper overnight . Published by the University of the South Pacific , our worn , insected , illustrated and decorated copy found by a runner in Cairns , North Queensland .
