Skip to content
Storgy

The Annotated Edition

ORKNEY LULLABY by Eugene Field

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

Read aloud in ~2 minOpen reading mode →

A moonbeam, a brownie, and a night wind take turns promising to watch over a sleeping child, wrapping light, song, and a sailor's prayer around the little one's bed.

Poet
Eugene Field
Themes
childhood, home, love
The PoemFull text

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!"

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

A moonbeam, a brownie, and a night wind take turns promising to watch over a sleeping child, wrapping light, song, and a sailor's prayer around the little one's bed. It’s a lullaby sung by three voices, each adding a unique layer of comfort. By the end, the child is enveloped in magic, music, and the love of someone far away at sea.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. A moonbeam floateth from the skies, / Whispering, "Heigho, my dearie!

    Editor's note

    The moonbeam comes as a soft, almost alive presence, communicating directly with the child. It invites the child to weave a "web of silver light" — a dream — filled with a radiant garden, dancing lilies, and playful white lambs. Everything here feels gentle, far away, and secure: the garden is "leagues away," indicating that this is a realm of sleep and imagination, separate from reality.

  2. A brownie stealeth from the vine / Singing, "Heigho, my dearie!

    Editor's note

    A brownie — a small, helpful fairy from Scottish and Orkney folklore — quietly enters next, bringing a song. Its home is the "land of murk and mist," the shadowy, mysterious realm of the night, where dew gently wakes the buds. Instead of trying to outshine the moonbeam, the brownie embraces it: let the silver web be spun, and I will sing all night long. The tone remains gentle and comforting, never scary, even though brownies are creatures of the dark.

  3. The night wind speedeth from the sea, / Murmuring, "Heigho, my dearie!

    Editor's note

    The night wind comes last, bringing with it the most emotionally significant gift: a mariner's prayer. The wind will soothe the child and gently touch its brow — but that touch belongs to *him*, the sailor who loves this child and is out on the water somewhere. The word "trow" (an old term meaning "believe" or "trust") roots the stanza in Orkney dialect and adds a serious, protective tone to the prayer. This final stanza subtly uncovers that the poem also addresses a parent's absence and the enduring love that spans distance.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is soft, tender, and gently magical throughout. Field maintains a whispering quality — the moonbeam glides, the brownie sneaks, the wind whispers. The repeated refrain "Heigho, my dearie!" creates a soothing rhythm, lulling the reader just as it lulls the child. In the final stanza, there's a subtle hint of longing as the absent mariner's love comes through the wind, but it doesn't become sad. The overall impression is one of warmth and safety.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The moonbeam's web of silver light
The web represents the very essence of dreams—sleep wrapping around the child like a beautiful, protective cocoon. Silver light is often linked to the moon, creativity, and the thin line that separates waking from dreaming.
The brownie
In Orkney and Scottish folklore, brownies are friendly household spirits that assist and safeguard families during the night. In this context, the brownie symbolizes the kind, watchful magic of nature, suggesting that invisible forces are there to protect children as they sleep.
The mariner's prayer
The prayer carried by the wind is the most human symbol in the poem. It represents parental love that can't be physically there — a sailor’s devotion crossing the sea to reach his child. This transforms the lullaby from a fairy tale into something tangible and emotionally resonant.
The night wind from the sea
The wind acts as a messenger and a substitute for the child's absent father. It gently rocks the child as the father would, kisses his beloved brow, and carries his prayer. The sea, from which the wind originates, represents both the sailor's familiar world and the vast unknown that keeps him away from home.
White lambkins
The snow-white lambs frolicking in the moonbeam's dream garden evoke a timeless sense of innocence and tranquil slumber. They suggest that the dream world awaiting the child is completely safe and soothing.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Eugene Field was an American journalist and poet active in the late 19th century, best known for his children's poems like "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod." He was heavily influenced by folk traditions from the British Isles, and "Orkney Lullaby" showcases his fascination with Celtic and Norse folklore. The Orkney Islands, located off the northern tip of Scotland, have a rich tradition of fairy lore, featuring characters like brownies and sea spirits. This poem came out during a time when sentimental verse for children was hugely popular in American newspapers and gift books. As a devoted father, Field infused his children's poetry with a genuine warmth that often lies beneath the fairy-tale surface. The maritime imagery in the final stanza connects the poem to the real world of Orkney, where fishing and seafaring were central to daily life, and where families commonly prayed for sailors out at sea.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

A brownie is a small fairy or household spirit from Scottish and Orkney folklore. These creatures were believed to emerge at night to assist families and watch over children. Field portrays the brownie as a friendly, musical guardian of the night, steering clear of any frightening connotations.

Read next

Poems in the same key

Similar poems

Nurse's Song — William BlakeSea Fever — John MasefieldAnnabel Lee — Edgar Allan Poe

More by Eugene Field

Browse all Eugene Field poems →

Themes in this poem

Poems about childhoodPoems about homePoems about lovePoems about nature