To Robin Goodfellow by Eugene Field

Robin Goodfellow is a mischievous fairy from English and Scottish folklore, famously portrayed as Puck in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. He would sneak into homes, swipe cream, and create chaos — though he also lent a hand to households he favored. The dialect nickname "Bawsy-brown" suggests a clumsy, rough-coated creature, which Field uses to give the fairy a warm, slightly humorous vibe rather than a majestic or scary one.

Field drew inspiration from the folk-song tradition of the Scottish Borders, a region known for its deep-rooted fairy beliefs. The use of dialect words like "gar" (make), "kenned" (knew), "gowans" (daisies), and "braes" (hillsides) indicates that the speaker is a Scottish countrywoman immersed in this tradition. This choice of language also lends the poem a musical, song-like quality that enhances its lighthearted theme.

She gives him free access to her cream and cheeses—the exact items he intended to steal—in return for two favors: a sleep-spell that brings her sweet dreams of her beloved Johnnie, and a solid pinching for the neighbor woman who flirts with Johnnie and has a filthy kitchen.

"Blie" is a dialect word that means color or hue. When the fairy arrives, the moonbeam on the floor, which had been dancing with the crickets, suddenly shifts to a warmer, rosier hue. This illustrates how the fairy’s presence transforms the room’s atmosphere — it’s as if the night itself blushes or comes alive.

It works for both. Field published it for a general newspaper audience, and the fairy-tale setting and light humor attract younger readers. However, the romantic subplot — dreaming of a sweetheart and feeling jealous over a rival — adds depth that adults will appreciate more. Field frequently crafted poems that resonated with both audiences simultaneously.

In folklore, fairies punished lazy or dishonest housekeepers by pinching them. The neighbor's dusty shelves and rusty pans make her fit that description perfectly. However, the speaker believes the real offense is that she "winkit at my Johnnie" — she flirted with the speaker's man. The speaker is invoking fairy justice to settle a very human grudge, which adds a humorous twist to the poem.

The poem consists of four stanzas, each with eight lines, following an ABCBDEFE rhyme scheme. Its lively, song-like rhythm resembles that of a Scottish ballad. Each stanza advances the "negotiation" by spotting the fairy, showcasing the speaker's understanding of him, presenting the offer, and stating the price.

Field was known for his poems that mix childhood wonder, folk tradition, and gentle humor—his most famous works include "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" and "Little Boy Blue." "To Robin Goodfellow" follows this pattern; it transforms an old piece of folklore into something intimate and funny instead of eerie, focusing on a relatable domestic scene rather than a grand supernatural event.