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Wynken, Blynken and Nod
Over 100 years ago, Wynken, Blynken and Nod came alive in the mind, heart and imagination of Eugene Field and on March 9, 1889, he penned the immortal words of what is also known as "The Dutch Lullaby." Today, it is still regarded as the most perfect childhood poem. Field - considered by historians to be the first newspaper columnist in the United States - was born in 1850. He was on the staff of newspapers in both Denver and Chicago. In addition to his work as a journalist, he also wrote over 500 poems and short stories, many about children. It was his belief that childhood was the most precious time of life and therefore, should be spent day dreaming, pretending, and using one's imagination before the realities and responsibilities of adult life were attained. He had lived only 45 years when he died in 1895, but his poetic writing achieved immortality through the haunting and unforgettable imagery of Wynken, Blynken and Nod.
The R. JOHN WRIGHT interpretation of Field's beloved poem consists of three fully jointed all-felt toddlers measuring six inches in height. Each has hand painted features, a hand knotted mohair wig, and a sailor-style all-felt sleeper with a drop seat! The 'Fishermen Three' carry fishing poles and a net filled with felt stars and fish inside a custom-made wooden shoe sailboat with a wood rudder, mast and felt sail. The boat is poised on a custom-made hardwood display base covered with swirls of dark blue felt and fish with eyes of tiny Austrian crystals! This enchanting piece measures approximately 15" wide X 19" high to the top of the mast.
Wynken, Blynken and Nod is an extremely small limited edition of only 100 sets. The prototype was shown for the first time at the annual DOLL & TEDDY BEAR EXPO held in Washington DC on Aug 27-29. Wynken, Blynken and Nod was made to coincide with the theme of the 2004 show: "Wish Upon A Star." It is available only directly from R. JOHN WRIGHT DOLLS. Please contact the RJW offices regarding availability or further information.
by Eugene Field, 1850-1895.
Found in the Oxford Book of Children's Verse.
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe --
Sailed off 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 the 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 fisherman 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 fisherman home;
'Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed
As if it could not be,
And some folks 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 the 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 fisherman three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
ESTIMATED DELIVERY: October 2004.
