GregHowley.com

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe
All mimsy were the borogoves
And the mome raths outgrabe

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird!
and shun the frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand
Long time the manxome foe he sought
So rested he by the Tumtum tree
And stood awhile in thought

And, as in uffish thought he stood
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe
All mimsy were the borogoves
And the mome raths outgrabe

The sun was shining on the sea
Shining with all his might
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done
"It's very rude of him," she said
"To come and spoil the fun!"

The sea was wet as wet could be
The sands were dry as dry
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky
No birds were flying overhead
There were no birds to fly

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"

"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year
Do you suppose," the Walrus said
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter
And shed a bitter tear

"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk
Along the briny beach
We cannot do with more than four
To give a hand to each."

The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said
The eldest Oyster winked his eye
And shook his heavy head
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed

But four young Oysters hurried up
All eager for the treat
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed
Their shoes were clean and neat
And this was odd, because, you know
They hadn't any feet

Four other Oysters followed them
And yet another four
And thick and fast they came at last
And more, and more, and more
All hopping through the frothy waves
And scrambling to the shore

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row

"The time has come," the Walrus said
"To talk of many things
Of shoes, and ships, and sealing-wax
Of cabbages and kings
And why the sea is boiling hot
And whether pigs have wings."

"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried
"Before we have our chat
For some of us are out of breath
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter
They thanked him much for that

"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said
"Is what we chiefly need
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear
We can begin to feed."

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried
Turning a little blue
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said
"Do you admire the view?

"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice
I wish you were not quite so deaf
I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said
"To play them such a trick
After we've brought them out so far
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"

"I weep for you," the Walrus said
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?"
But answer came there none
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one