Little Boy Blue by Eugene Field
The poem tells the story of a young boy who dies prematurely, and his spirit returns to comfort his grieving mother. The poem explores themes of love, loss, grief, and the supernatural.
By Eugene Field · First published 1881 · Genre: Children's Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Nostalgia · 272 words
First lines
The little toy dog is covered with dust, / But sturdy and stanch he stands; / And the little toy soldier is red with rust, / And his musket molds in his hands. / Time was when the little toy dog was new / And the soldier was passing fair, / And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue / Kissed them and put them there.
"Now, don't you go till I come," he said, / "And don't you make any noise! " / So toddling off to his trundle-bed / He dreamed of the pretty toys. / And as he was dreaming, an angel song / Awakened our Little Boy Blue, -- / Oh, the years are many, the years are long, / But the little toy friends are true.
What this Textopian page supports
Little Boy Blue is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1881 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1881 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Nostalgia, Fantasy, Elegy
- Length: 272 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Little Boy Blue by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Children's Poetry — The poem is written for children, featuring themes of childhood innocence and imagination.
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal feelings and emotions, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Nostalgia — The themes reflect a longing for the past and the innocence of childhood.
- Fantasy — The presence of toys and the dreamlike quality of the narrative suggest elements of fantasy.
Tags
Poetry · Children's Literature · American Literature · 19th Century · Nostalgia · Childhood Memories · Imagination · Fantasy · Whimsy · Rhyming Verse · Illustrated · Classic