Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, JABBERWOCKY, by CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON



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JABBERWOCKY, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Last Line: And the mome raths outgrabe.
Alternate Author Name(s): Carroll, Lewis
Subject(s): Dragons; Nonsense


'T WAS brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogroves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwocky, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The fruminous 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.

'T was 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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