Wee Willie Winkie

Wee Willie Winkie

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Up stairs and down stairs in his night-gown,
Tapping at the window, crying at the lock,
"Are all the children in their bed, it's past eight o'clock?"

"Hey, Willie Winkie, are you coming in?
The cat is singing purring sounds to the sleeping hen,
The dog's spread out upon the floor, and doesn't give a cheep,
But here's a wakeful little boy who will not go to sleep!"

Anything but sleep, you rogue! glowering like the moon,
Rattling in an iron jug with an iron spoon,
Rumbling, tumbling round about, crowing like a cock,
Shrieking like I don't know what, and waking sleeping folk.

"Hey, Willie Winkie - the child's in a creel!
Wriggling from his daddy's knee like an eel,
Tugging at the cat's ear, confusing all her thrums
Hey, Willie Winkie - see, there he comes!"

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Up stairs and down stairs in his night-gown,
Tapping at the window, crying at the lock,
"Are all the children in their bed, it's past eight o'clock?"