Jabberwocky

Jabberwocky

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.

-from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There

A very common favorite, this poem definitely makes for a conversation piece. Carroll, as we all know, was quite the character himself. There are quite a few words he is credited as having coined. This can lead to some confusion in understanding some of his works, but rest assured that the answers are out there.

((If you have trouble locating anything and would like a further explanation of any parts of the poem or specific words, let me know with a comment and I'll add a post to assist you as soon as I am able to.))