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A continuing selection of classic and contemporary poems.

Orkney Lullaby

Eugene Field

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!”
Online text © 1998-2008 Poetry X. All rights reserved.
From A Little Book of Western Verse | 1889
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