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Orkney Lullaby by Eugene Field

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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
Core theme
Childhood
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

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§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.

§06Form & structure

Form & structure

Meter
iambic tetrameter
Rhyme
ABACCDDDB ABACCDDDB ABACCDDDB

§07Historical 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.

§08FAQ

Questions readers ask

What is a brownie in this poem?

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.

Who is the mariner mentioned in the last stanza?

The mariner is likely the child's father — a sailor out at sea. The night wind carries his prayer back to the child's bedside, serving as a messenger between them. This is the emotional core of the poem: the father may not be present, but his love makes its way home.

What does "trow" mean?

"Trow" is an old term still found in the Orkney dialect, meaning to believe or trust. "I trow" translates to "I believe" or "I am sure." Field uses this word to infuse the poem with a genuine Orkney character and to convey a sense of quiet certainty regarding the wind's promise.

Why is the poem called an Orkney lullaby specifically?

The Orkney Islands, a Scottish archipelago, are rich in Norse and Celtic folklore, featuring tales of brownies and sea spirits. The scene—a child by the sea, a mariner father, and fairy visitors at night—reflects the local cultural landscape. Field, despite being American, was captivated by this unique regional folk atmosphere.

What is the structure of the poem?

The poem consists of three stanzas, each with nine lines. Every stanza has a similar structure: a supernatural visitor appears, greets with "Heigho, my dearie!", shares its gift, and concludes with the refrain. This repetition captures the soothing rhythm of a real lullaby.

What gifts do the three visitors bring?

The moonbeam carries a dream — a silver web filled with enchanting visions. The brownie offers a song to fill the night air. The night wind brings a sailor's prayer along with the soothing comfort of gentle rocking and a kiss. Together, they weave imagination, music, and love.

Is this poem sad?

It's mostly peaceful and tender, yet there's a subtle sadness beneath the final stanza. The father is missing — out at sea — and his love can only touch the child through the wind that carries his prayer. Field maintains a gentle tone instead of a mournful one, but the longing feels authentic.

How does this poem compare to Field's other children's poems?

Like "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod," this poem features a trio of enchanting characters and a soothing, repetitive rhythm that helps lull a child to sleep. Both poems mix fairy-tale imagery with heartfelt parental affection. "Orkney Lullaby" is a bit more connected to a particular folk tradition and conveys a deeper sense of adult yearning.

Citation

Cite this poem

MLA

Field, Eugene. "Orkney Lullaby." Storgy, https://storgy.com/poems/orkney-lullaby-eugene-field/.

APA

Field, E. (n.d.). Orkney lullaby. Storgy. https://storgy.com/poems/orkney-lullaby-eugene-field/

TeacherAP Lit Q1 scaffold — preview

Row A — Thesis

1 pt

In 'Orkney Lullaby,' Eugene Field orchestrates a procession of three supernatural visitors: moonbeam, brownie, and night wind — not merely to soothe a child to sleep, but to dramatize the layered nature of parental love itself: tender …

  • Row B — Evidence + Commentary4 pts
  • Row C — Sophistication1 pt
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