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Poems of childhood cover

Poems of childhood

Chapter 42: HEIGHO, MY DEARIE

By Eugene Field

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Children & Young Adult Reading Poetry

About This Book

A collection of short lyrical poems written for and about children, blending playful nonsense, gentle lullabies, and nostalgic reminiscence. Many pieces evoke bedtime and nursery scenes, give voice to toys and animals, or imagine voyages and fairylike adventures, mixing humor with a tender melancholy. Several poems adapt or echo folk-song material, while others are brief narrative or character sketches that vary in meter and mood. Overall the verses create an intimate domestic atmosphere, inviting readers into childlike wonder through simple rhythms, vivid small-scale imagery, and affectionate observation.

HEIGHO, MY DEARIE

A moonbeam floateth from the skies,

Whispering: “Heigho, my dearie;

I would spin a web before your eyes—

A beautiful web of silver light

Wherein is many a wondrous sight

Of a radiant garden leagues away,

Where the softly tinkling lilies sway

And the snow-white lambkins are at play—

Heigho, my dearie!”

A brownie stealeth from the vine,

Singing: “Heigho, my dearie;

And will you hear this song of mine—

A song of the land of murk and mist

Where bideth the bud the dew hath kist?

Then let the moonbeam’s web of light

Be spun before thee silvery white,

And I shall sing the livelong night—

Heigho, my dearie!”

The night wind speedeth from the sea,

Murmuring: “Heigho, my dearie;

I bring a mariner’s prayer for thee;

So let the moonbeam veil thine eyes,

And the brownie sing thee lullabies—

But I shall rock thee to and fro,

Kissing the brow he loveth so.

And the prayer shall guard thy bed, I trow—

Heigho, my dearie!”