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 afeard 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: ’T was 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 on the misty sea Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three,— Wynken, Blynken, And Nod.

Collection: 
English
1870
Eugene Field

More from Poet

  • The Compliment

    Arrayed in snow-white pants and vest, And other rainment fair to view, I stood before my sweetheart Sue— The charming creature I love best. “Tell me and does my costume suit?” I asked that apple of my eye— And then the charmer made reply, “Oh, yes, you do look awful cute!” Although I...

  • Jim’s Kids

    Jim was a fisherman, up on the hill, Over the beach lived he and his wife, In a little house—you can see it still— An’ their two fair boys; upon my life You never seen two likelier kids, In spite of their antics an’ tricks an’ noise, Than them two boys! Jim would go out in his boat on...

  • Seein’ Things

    I Ain’t afeard uv snakes, or toads, or bugs, or worms, or mice, An’ things ’at girls are skeered uv I think are awful nice! I ’m pretty brave, I guess; an’ yet I hate to go to bed, For, when I ’m tucked up warm an’ snug an’ when my prayers are said, Mother tells me “Happy dreams!” and takes away...

  • A Dutch Lullaby

    Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night Sailed off in a wooden shoe— Sailed on a river of misty 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...

  • Japanese Lullaby

    Sleep, little pigeon, and fold your wings,— Little blue pigeon with velvet eyes; Sleep to the singing of mother-bird swinging— Swinging the nest where her little one lies. Away out yonder I see a star,— Silvery star with a tinkling song; To the soft dew falling I hear it calling— Calling...