The narrative "Lullaby" unfolds the life of Ayah, an elderly Native American woman, who finds solace in her memories. She reflects upon her past, intertwining moments of deep sorrow with snippets of happiness tied to her grandmother. Ayah's story is a poignant exploration of loss, cultural disconnect, and familial bonds that endure through adversity.

Reminiscences of Past Joys and Sorrows

As Ayah sits by a serene stream, she drifts into reverie, recalling the vivid scenes of her earlier life. Her mind's eye takes her back to when she watched her mother at work on a large loom, her grandmother beside her, spinning wool into yarn. These recollections are interspersed with the memory of the tender care from her mother and an older woman during the birth of her first child, Jimmie. However, this peaceful nostalgia is shattered by the intrusion of a stark memory: the visit from a white man bearing the news of Jimmie's death in a wartime helicopter crash. Lacking English language skills herself, Ayah had to rely on Chato, her husband, to convey the terrible news, a task that underscored their dependency on the foreign language.

The Agonizing Loss of Her Children

More haunting than the loss of Jimmie is Ayah's recollection of when her younger children, Danny and Ella, were taken. White doctors, with papers in hand, arrived at her home seeking her signature. Driven by fear and ignorance of their language, Ayah signed the document, which unknowingly permitted the doctors to take her children. In a desperate act, she fled with them to the hills, but their safety was temporary. Chato, upon returning home, faced the officials again, this time with a policeman from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He explained to Ayah that the signature had been a tragic misstep, as it allowed the authorities to claim the children allegedly for health reasons—saying they had contracted tuberculosis from their deceased grandmother. This event marked a significant fracture in Ayah and Chato's relationship; she harbored resentment towards him for teaching her to sign her name without understanding its potential consequences. This rift grew, leading them to live increasingly separate lives.

Visits That Deepened the Chasm

The few times Danny and Ella were allowed to visit, Ayah noticed the uncomfortable demeanor of the white women who accompanied them. These women were visibly uneasy, disapproving when the children conversed with Ayah in their native tongue, and quick to judge her as unfit. The final visit was particularly heart-wrenching; the children had lost their ability to speak their mother’s language, and Ella, having been taken so young, did not even recognize Ayah. Each visit seemed to widen the cultural and emotional gap between them.

The Bitter Reality of Old Age

Years later, after the children were long gone, another blow came when the rancher informed Chato that he was too old for work and would have to leave. With no other choice, the couple had to rely on federal assistance checks to get by. However, these checks provided little relief as Chato would often squander the funds at local bars. The story's present finds Ayah on her way to find Chato at the bar, but when he is not there, she braves the snow to search for him. Her trek ends when she discovers him, exhausted, trudging toward their home. As they rest, Ayah realizes Chato is nearing death. In a moment of tenderness amidst the biting cold, she wraps him in a blanket and begins to sing a lullaby—a song passed down from her grandmother. It is the only lullaby she knows, though she is unsure if she ever sang it to her own children. Yet, it is a thread connecting her to her past, her family, and a quiet strength in her struggle.