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Poems Every Child Should Know

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<h3>Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.</h3> <div class="pre_poem">"Wynken, Blynken, and Nod," by Eugene Field (1850-95), pleases children, who are all by nature sailors and adventurers. </div> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> 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. </div> <div class="stanza"> 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. </div> <div class="stanza"> 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. </div> <div class="stanza"> 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. </div> </td></tr></table> Eugene Field. <h3>The Duel.</h3> <div class="pre_poem">"The Duel," by Eugene Field (1850-95), is almost the most popular humorous poem that has come under my notice. In making such a collection as this it is not easy to find poems at once delicate, witty, and graphic. I have taught "The Duel" hundreds of times, and children invariably love it. </div> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> The gingham dog and the calico cat [**link to part1 img?] Side by side on the table sat; 'Twas half-past twelve, and (what do you think!) Nor one nor t'other had slept a wink! The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate Appeared to know as sure as fate There was going to be a terrible spat. (I wasn't there; I simply state What was told to me by the Chinese plate!) </div> <div class="stanza"> The gingham dog went "bow-wow-wow!" And the calico cat replied "mee-ow!" The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row! (Now mind: I'm only telling you What the old Dutch clock declares is true!) </div> <div class="stanza"> The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!" But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw— And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew! (Don't fancy I exaggerate! I got my views from the Chinese plate!) </div> <div class="stanza"> Next morning where the two had sat They found no trace of the dog or cat; And some folks think unto this day That burglars stole the pair away! But the truth about the cat and the pup Is this: They ate each other up! Now what do you really think of that! (The old Dutch clock it told me so, And that is how I came to know.) </div> </td></tr></table> Eugene Field. <h3>The Boy Who Never Told a Lie.</h3> <div class="pre_poem">"The Boy Who Never Told a Lie" (anonymous), as well as "Whatever Brawls Disturb the Street," by Isaac Watts (1674-1748), are real gems. A few years ago they were more in favour than the poorer verse that has been put forward. But they are sure to be revived. </div> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> Once there was a little boy, With curly hair and pleasant eye— A boy who always told the truth, And never, never told a lie. </div> <div class="stanza"> And when he trotted off to school, The children all about would cry, "There goes the curly-headed boy— The boy that never tells a lie." </div> <div class="stanza"> And everybody loved him so, Because he always told the truth, That every day, as he grew up, 'Twas said, "There goes the honest youth." </div> <div class="stanza"> And when the people that stood near Would turn to ask the reason why, The answer would be always this: "Because he never tells a lie." </div> </td></tr></table> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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