THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER
by: Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)
- HE 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.
"The Walrus and the Carpenter"
is reprinted from The Hunting of the Snark and Other Poems
and Verses. Lewis Carroll. New York: Harper & Brothers,
1903. |
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