Polliwog's Lament
Rose Polenzani Lyrics

The first stanza of the song "Polliwog's Lament" by Rose Polenzani sets the mood of the song with the imagery of a polliwog in the sunset and a razorback in Maine. The singer of the song is looking for comfort in the form of a "bonnie baby," but there's no baby crying, and no man alive needs a barren woman as his bride. The use of the word "barren" is significant because it implies that the singer is infertile and unable to bear children. The singer's loneliness is emphasized by the repetition of the phrase "Lonely, I'm so lonely!" which gives the song a haunting quality.

In the second stanza, the singer calls upon a coyote in the moonlight to bring the "bonnie baby" to their lips. There's no soul growing, and no breathless frog leaping in their body. The phrase "heaven's hollow log" adds to the eerie atmosphere of the song. It suggests a sense of emptiness or hollowness in the singer's existence, as if they are missing something vital. The juxtaposition of the coyote watching over its prey and the singer's desire for a baby adds to the sense of loneliness and isolation.

In the final stanza, the singer calls upon the shepherd at the sunrise to bring the "bonnie baby" back to their lap. They express their sadness at having no sheep for flocking and no son or daughter to kiss them when they die. The repetition of the phrase "ain't no" highlights the absence of these things in the singer's life. Overall, "Polliwog's Lament" is a haunting and melancholic song that explores themes of loneliness, isolation, and longing.