Eugene Field (1850–1895) was a Chicago newspaper columnist who became known as the “Poet of Childhood.” Most of his best-loved poems are bedtime poems: three little fishermen sailing a wooden shoe among the stars, a train bound for Shut-Eye Town, and a candy tree in the garden of dreams. Many were gathered in With Trumpet and Drum (1892) and Love-Songs of Childhood (1894).
Not every Field poem is a lullaby. The Duel is a comic tale of a gingham dog and a calico cat, and Little Boy Blue is a tender poem of loss best shared by a grown-up who has read it first. Each poem below has its own page with the full text and a read-aloud, and three of them are also Storyland Classics picture books.
New to Field? Start with Wynken, Blynken, and Nod, then try The Sugar-Plum Tree at bedtime.
Press Play Once
Watch 9 of Eugene Field’s poems together in one 27-minute compilation video. ✦ Watch on YouTube
The Poems
Tap a title to read the full text and watch its read-aloud.
- Wynken, Blynken, and NodThree fishermen sail a wooden shoe among the stars.
- The Sugar-Plum TreeA chocolate cat, a gingerbread dog and sweets for dreamland.
- The DuelThe gingham dog and the calico cat quarrel at midnight.
- The Shut-Eye TrainAll aboard, bound through the stars for Shut-Eye Town.
- The Rock-a-By LadyPoppies full of tiny dreams for sleeping children.
- The Fly-Away HorseA night ride to lands of candy trees and honey brooks.
- The Night WindA boy sent up to bed hears the wailing wind.
- Seein’ ThingsBrave by day, but the shadows look different at night.
- Little Boy BlueFaithful toys wait for a child who never returns.