The Bottle Tree by Eugene Field
The poem describes a fantastical tree with bottles of various shapes and sizes hanging from its branches. The speaker imagines the sounds the bottles would make if they were to fall, comparing them to music and laughter. The poem explores the idea of beauty and wonder in a whimsical and dreamlike atmosphere.
By Eugene Field · First published 1893 · Genre: Children's Literature, Poetry, Fantasy · 277 words
First lines
A bottle tree bloometh in Winkyway land -- / Heigh-ho for a bottle, I say! / A snug little berth in that ship I demand / That rocketh the Bottle-Tree babies away / Where the Bottle Tree bloometh by night and by day / And reacheth its fruit to each wee, dimpled hand; / You take of that fruit as much as you list, / For colic's a nuisance that doesn't exist! / So cuddle me and cuddle me fast, / And cuddle me snug in my cradle away, / For I hunger and thirst for that precious repast -- / Heigh-ho for a bottle, I say!
What this Textopian page supports
The Bottle Tree is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1893 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: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Poetry, Fantasy, Nursery Rhyme, Lullaby
- Length: 277 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Bottle Tree 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 Literature — The poem is aimed at a young audience, featuring themes of comfort, nurturing, and playful imagery.
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, utilizing rhyme and rhythm characteristic of poetic forms.
- Fantasy — The setting of Winkyway land and the concept of a bottle tree suggest a whimsical, imaginative world.
- Nursery Rhyme — The repetitive structure and simple language align with the conventions of nursery rhymes.
Tags
Mystery · Family Secrets · Coming-of-Age · Rural Life · Small Town · Social Hierarchy · Class Differences · Poverty · Wealth · Power Dynamics · Injustice · Rebellion