This post is dedicated to my friend, V in the UK. I imagine her to be reading similar poems to her baby girl across the sea...
The other day my mom reminded me of one of my favourite poems from when I was little. I read it again recently and was struck by the beautiful imagery and the rhythmic, soothing language. I found a used copy on Amazon and I think I'll start reading it to Rudy before bed. I'm sharing it here because it's such a favourite.
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
Eugene Field
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.
How was your weekend? Ours was lovely, despite Corey and Rudy both feeling a bit under the weather. I worked a little but I took both afternoons off so we also got to focus on Rudy a lot. It was a rare chance to see friends (We had two playdates!) and one of our friends reviewed infant CPR with us so that we can be confident when Rudy starts solid foods in a few months.
After such a busy weekend, we are totally pooped! Raising a baby really is a three person job.
Tonight, we're eating soup and watching a movie before bed. Rudy's asleep already and the dogs are grumbling at each other over who gets the bigger half of the couch... Life is good. Sweet dreams!
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| Thanks to our friend, Michael Budd for the photo. |
