Jabberwocky: Day 3 of 31 Days of Senses and Seasons

For some inane reason, the Halloween season brings Lewis Carroll's "The Jabberwocky" to mind.  Take a look at this glorious beast, his eyes look so sad.  Of course, it doesn't hurt my spirit that the little girl taking on the big monster is also named Alice.

Thank you, Mr. Allen, my middle school science teacher.  Not only did Mr. Allen introduce me to "The Jabberwocky", he was also the only person I've ever heard recite it (yes, from memory and he had to have been at least 103 at the time) with its due justice.

Poems, you either love them, or .... haven't quite grown to love them. Prophetic or profane, practical or just plain pretty, words can paint pictures in our minds.  

"The Jabberwocky" is an incredible act to follow, but perhaps I'll include one of my own further down the road.  In the meantime, try not to let the jabberwocky creep into your dreams.

Jabberwocky
BY LEWIS CARROLL
’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.


Source: The Random House Book of Poetry for Children (1983)

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