Poem of the day

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
⁠   (Dutch Lullaby)
by Eugene Field (1850-1895)

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:
’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.

Views: 33

Poem of the day

I Loved a Lass
by George Wither (1588-1667)

I loved a lass, a fair one,
   As fair as e’er was seen;
She was indeed a rare one,
   Another Sheba Queen:
But, fool as then I was,
   I thought she loved me too:
But now, alas! she’s left me,
   Falero, lero, loo!

Her hair like gold did glister,
   Each eye was like a star,
She did surpass her sister,
   Which pass’d all others far;
She would me ‛honey’ call,
   She’d—O she’d kiss me too!
But now, alas! she’s left me,
   Falero, lero, loo!

In summer time to Medley
   My love and I would go;
The boatmen there stood read’ly
   My love and me to row.
For cream there would we call,
   For cakes and for prunes too;
But now, alas! she’s left me,
   Falero, lero, loo!

Her cheeks were like the cherry,
   Her skin was white as snow;
When she was blithe and merry
   She angel-like did show;
Her waist exceeding small,
   The fives did fit her shoe:
But now, alas! she’s left me,
   Falero, lero, loo!

In summer time or winter
   She had her heart’s desire;
I still did scorn to stint her
   From sugar, sack, or fire;
The world went round about,
   No cares we ever knew:
But now, alas! she’s left me,
   Falero, lero, loo!

To maidens’ vows and swearing
   Henceforth no credit give;
You may give them the hearing,
   But never them believe;
They are as false as fair,
   Unconstant, frail, untrue:
For mine, alas! hath left me,
   Falero, lero, loo!

Views: 28

Game of the week

Views: 55