So, so, Rock-A-By so! by Eugene Field
The speaker lovingly rocks a child toward a heavenly garden where “dreamikins” grow, giving kisses to the child’s eyes, cheek, and the treasured dream sought in the distant skies. A little fumfay dances there through the night, and the child is asked to carry three kisses to him for the dream that will arise. As the child rocks toward sleep, the speaker urges remembrance of the mother who loves the child and sends her kisses with the child to the dreamland and its blinkywink garden.
By Eugene Field · First published 1892 · Genre: Lullaby Poetry, Children's Poetry, Nursery Rhyme · 305 words
First lines
So, so, rock-a-by so! / Off to the garden where dreamikins grow; / And here is a kiss on your winkyblink eyes, / And here is a kiss on your dimpledown cheek / And here is a kiss for the treasure that lies / In the beautiful garden way up in the skies / Which you seek. / Now mind these three kisses wherever you go -- / So, so, rock-a-by so!
Similar titles
- The Rock A By Lady English by Eugene Field
- Child Or Fairy by Abbie Farwell Brown
- The Rat And Guitar by Hugh Lofting
- A Bed Time Song by Ruth Collie
- The Dinkey Bird English by Eugene Field
- Gimcrack And Gewgaw by Hugh Lofting
Genres
- Lullaby Poetry — The poem is structured as a soothing sleep song, repeatedly using the refrain 'So, so, rock-a-by so!' and addressing a child being rocked toward sleep.
- Children's Poetry — Its affectionate voice, playful invented words, simple musical repetition, and imagery of kisses and dreamland are designed for a young child.
- Nursery Rhyme — The work employs rocking rhythms, diminutives, repeated phrases, and a cradle-song atmosphere characteristic of nursery verse.
- Fantasy Poetry — It imagines a magical sky-garden where 'dreamikins grow' and a fanciful creature called a 'fumfay' dances through the night.
Tags
children's poetry · lullaby · bedtime · motherly love · rocking a child · sleep and dreams · dreamland · heavenly garden · nursery rhyme · fantasy · infant imagery · kisses
What this Textopian page supports
So, so, Rock-A-By so! is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1892 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: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lullaby Poetry, Children's Poetry, Nursery Rhyme, Fantasy Poetry, Bedtime Poetry
- Length: 305 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for So, so, Rock-A-By so! by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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