Otherwocky

[Verse 1]

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

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"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.

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

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[Verse 2]

 

'Twas balmish, and the limey rane,

Did tile and toble in the gloam;

All sawffer were the dorminane,

And the nidswaths afoam.

 

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They hungered, Motherwock and brood,

The jaws that munch, the claws that scratch;

They hungered in a tizzied mood,

Spake she, “I'll suppersnatch.”

 

She went with vorpal beak to hunt:

Longtime the fatsome prey she sought –

So ambled she through the tum tum trees,

And brewed a while in thought.

 

And gorgingly she spotted food –

A little beast with glinting frame –

And triffling through the winksome wood,

she pounced the two-legg'd game.

 

A Bite, a bash! A swipe, alas!

The vorpal beak went snapper-clack!

Yet ground soaked red from severed head;

She slumped, slain, to her back.

 

'And what has come of motherwock?”

Her brood did pine into the night,

they jabbered, walking, whining, “Squawk!”

No skill to catch and bite.

 

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'Twas balmish, and the limey rane,

Did tile and toble in the gloam;

All sawffer were the dorminane,

And the nidswaths afoam.