Jabberwocky

This is for dear Sem...

JABBERWOCKY, by Lewis Carroll

'twas Brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimbal 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!"

So took he vorpal sword in hand
Long time the manxome foe he sought.
Then rested he by the Tumtum tree
And stood a while in thought.

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

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

"And hast 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 gimbal in the wabe
All mimsy were the Borogoves
And the mome raths outgrabe.


I remember bits of "You are old, Father William" too, but not enough to transcribe without looking it up. I used to recite this to my son with proper dramatic effect when he was but a wee tot. He loved it.

Lorri
Surprisingly erudite