Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

I'd like to share with you this beautiful poem for children, written by Eugene Field and first published in 1889. Apparently the original title was "Dutch Lullaby" - and lullaby it most certainly is...

It's a fantasy bed-time story about three little children sailing and fishing among the stars from their little boat, which is a wooden shoe. The names imply a sleepy child's blinking eyes and nodding head, and the spelling of the names, and the "wooden shoe," suggest Dutch language, hence the original title.

Once published it was very quickly set to music and there have been various versions since. It was one of the lullabies I used to sing to my own baby, having heard it on a compilation of nursery rhymes. I used to love it - a bedtime story and a few songs - what better way to help someone fall asleep when they're very young?

I love the language and the images it evokes - it's rich material for illustrators and has inspired some really exquisite pictures. Here it is:

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night sailed off in a wooden shoe —

Sailed on a river of crystal light, into a sea of dew.

"Where are you going, and what do you wish?" the old moon asked the three.

"We have come to fish for the herring fish that live in this beautiful sea;

Nets of silver and gold have we!" said Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song, as they rocked in the wooden shoe,

And the wind that sped them all night long ruffled the waves of dew.

The little stars were the herring fish that lived in that beautiful sea —

"Now cast your nets wherever you wish — never afraid are we";

So cried the stars to the fishermen three: Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

All night long their nets they threw to the stars in the twinkling foam —

Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe, bringing the fishermen home;

'Twas all so pretty a sail, it seemed as if it could not be,

And some folks thought 'twas a dream they'd dreamed of sailing that beautiful sea —

But I shall name you the fishermen three: Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes, and Nod is a little head,

And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies is a wee one's trundle-bed.

So shut your eyes while Mother sings of wonderful sights that be,

And you shall see the beautiful things as you rock in the misty sea,

Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three: Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

Even copying it out here it makes me feel like closing my eyes and falling asleep - just imagine those nets of silver and gold for catching stars...