Wee Willie Winkie

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Wee Willie Winkie is the bedtime figure characterised in the Scottish nursery rhyme of the same name which was written by William Miller in 1841. Wee Willie Winkie is also a book by Rudyard Kipling, a 1937 film with Shirley Temple, and a character in the children's educational weekly Treasure. The character of Wee Willie Winky (aka William Winky) appeared in Jasper Fforde's book The Big Over Easy (2005).

[edit] The nursery rhyme

The original text was written in Scots and is below

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the toun,

Up stairs and down stairs in his nicht-goun,

Tirlin' at the window, cryin' at the lock,

"Are the weans in their bed, for it's noo ten o'clock?"

"Hey, Willie Winkie, are ye comin' ben?

The cat's singin' grey thrums to the sleepin' hen,

The dog's spelder'd on the floor, and disna gi'e a cheep,

But here's a waukrife laddie that winna fa' asleep!"

Onything but sleep, you rogue! glow'ring like the mune,

Rattlin' in an airn jug wi' an airn spune,

Rumblin', tumblin' round about, crawin' like a cock,

Skirlin' like a kenna-what, wauk'nin' sleepin' fock.

"Hey, Willie Winkie - the wean's in a creel!

Wambling aff a bodie's knee like a verra eel,

Ruggin' at the cat's lug, and ravelin' a' her thrums

Hey, Willie Winkie - see, there he comes!"

Wearit is the mither that has a stoorie wean,

A wee stumple stoussie, that canna rin his lane,

That has a battle aye wi' sleep before he'll close an ee

But a kiss frae aff his rosy lips gies strength anew to me.

A rough English translation is given below

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 the children in their bed, for it's now ten o'clock?"

"Hey, Willie Winkie, are you coming in?

The cat's singing purring to the sleeping hen,

The dog's spread out on the floor, and doesn't give a cheep,

But here's an insomniac boy who will not fall asleep!"

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, waking sleeping folk.

"Hey, Willie Winkie - the child's in a basket!

Wriggling from everyone's knee like an eel,

Tugging at the cat's ear, and confusing all her purrs

Hey, Willie Winkie - see, there he comes!"

Weary is the mother who has a dusty child,

A small short child, who can't run on his own,

Who always has a battle with sleep before he'll close an eye

But a kiss from his rosy lips gives strength anew to me.

[edit] The spirit

The spirit of Wee Willie Winkie himself shares a field with other bedtime entities such as the Sandman, Ole Luke Oie of Scandinavia, and Dormette of France. Some children even ask Wee Willie Winkie to help them wake when they are to wet the bed or embark on a sleepwalk.