Eugene Field

Maybe some of you will remember the poem that we look at today: “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.” Written in 1889 by Eugene Field (2 September 1850 – 4 November 1895) it was one of many poems written for children during his short 45-year life.

Born in St Louis, Missouri, Eugene Field lost his mother when he was six and his father when he was nineteen. (His father was the attorney who represented Dred Scott, the slave who sued for his freedom.) Field attended several colleges without completing a degree. He tried his hand at several occupations but none took until in 1875 he became a journalist and worked for newspapers in Missouri, Kansas and Denver. In 1883 he moved to Chicago and wrote for the Chicago Daily News, publishing a light-hearted column Sharps and Flats.

In 1879 he started publishing poetry, much of it for children, and also wrote short stories. Some of his books were illustrated by Maxfield Parrish and some of his poems were set to music. Lucy Simon adapted the poem and wrote the music for “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod” that she and her sister Carly recorded. Other folk singers such as the Brothers Four and the Mamas and the Papas also recorded it. 

Here is the poem and then the charming song sung by the Simon Sisters.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

 

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 the 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 folk 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.