I have a fairy by my side Which says I must not sleep, When once in pain I loudly cried It said "You must not weep" If, full of mirth, I smile and grin, It says "You must not laugh" When once I wished to drink some gin It said "You must not quaff". When once a meal I wished to taste It said "You must not bite" When to the wars I went in haste It said "You must not fight". "What may I do?" at length I cried, Tired of the painful task. The fairy quietly replied
"I have a fairy by my side which says I must not sleep." This fairy tells the narrator to avoid various natural urges, such as sleeping, weeping, laughing, drinking gin, and eating meals. The recurring message emphasizes restraint and self-control, indicating that the fairy's role is to command the narrator to suppress natural human feelings and desires.
"When I went to war, it told me, 'You must not fight.'" The narrator, exhausted by these strict commands, finally asks what he is supposed to do. The fairy quietly responds, highlighting the difficulty of constantly obeying such prohibitions and perhaps questioning the purpose behind these restrictions. This poem reflects themes of control, restraint, and the inner struggle of resisting one's natural impulses.
