J is for Jabberwocky

 ‘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 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 gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.


Lewis Carroll


Comments

  1. Today'a A to Z Challenge post courtesy of Lewis Carroll, who's sort of a personal hero...

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  2. Such a great use of nonsense words.

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  3. I've always liked this creature. It was used in to great effect in Marissa Meyer's "Heartless".

    Ronel visiting for J: My Languishing TBR: J
    Ghosts

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've loved this poem ever since I first read it. There was even a science fiction story somewhat based on it from 1943 called Mimsy Were the Borogroves that is well worth reading.

    ReplyDelete

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