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From “Alice in Wonderland”
THE 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 | 5 |
| The middle of the night. | |
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| The moon was shining sulkily, | |
| Because she thought the sun | |
| Had got no business to be there | |
| After the day was done— | 10 |
| “It ’s very rude of him,” she said, | |
| “To come and spoil the fun!” | |
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| The sea was wet as wet could be, | |
| The sands were dry as dry. | |
| You could not see a cloud, because | 15 |
| No cloud was in the sky: | |
| No birds were flying overhead— | |
| There were no birds to fly. | |
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| The Walrus and the Carpenter | |
| Were walking close at hand; | 20 |
| They wept like anything to see | |
| Such quantities of sand: | |
| “If this were only cleared away,” | |
| They said, “it would be grand!” | |
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| “If seven maids with seven mops | 25 |
| 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. | 30 |
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| “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, | 35 |
| To give a hand to each.” | |
| |
| The eldest Oyster looked at him, | |
| But not a word he said: | |
| The eldest Oyster winked his eye, | |
| And shook his heavy head— | 40 |
| Meaning to say he did not choose | |
| To leave the oyster-bed. | |
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| But four young Oysters hurried up, | |
| All eager for the treat: | |
| Their coats were brushed, their faces washed, | 45 |
| Their shoes were clean and neat— | |
| And this was odd, because, you know, | |
| They hadn’t any feet. | |
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| Four other Oysters followed them, | |
| And yet another four; | 50 |
| 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. | |
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| The Walrus and the Carpenter | 55 |
| 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. | 60 |
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| “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— | 65 |
| And whether pigs have wings.” | |
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| “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!” | 70 |
| “No hurry!” said the Carpenter. | |
| They thanked him much for that. | |
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| “A loaf of bread,” the Walrus said, | |
| “Is what we chiefly need: | |
| Pepper and vinegar besides | 75 |
| Are very good indeed— | |
| Now if you ’re ready, Oysters dear, | |
| We can begin to feed.” | |
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| “But not on us!” the Oysters cried, | |
| Turning a little blue. | 80 |
| “After such kindness that would be | |
| A dismal thing to do!” | |
| “The night is fine,” the Walrus said, | |
| “Do you admire the view? | |
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| “It was so kind of you to come! | 85 |
| 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!” | 90 |
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| “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 | 95 |
| “The butter ’s spread too thick!” | |
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| “I weep for you,” the Walrus said; | |
| “I deeply sympathize.” | |
| With sobs and tears he sorted out | |
| Those of the largest size, | 100 |
| Holding his pocket-handkerchief | |
| Before his streaming eyes. | |
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| “O Oysters,” said the Carpenter, | |
| “You ’ve had a pleasant run! | |
| Shall we be trotting home again?” | 105 |
| But answer came there none— | |
| And this was scarcely odd, because | |
| They ’d eaten every one. | |
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