Poems by Lewis Carroll

All Poems Original Poems Translations

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Fit The First: The Landing

The Landing

"Just the place for a Snark!" the Bellman cried,

As he landed his crew with care;

Supporting each man on the top of the tide

By a finger entwined in his hair.

"Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:

That alone should encourage the crew.

Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:

by Lewis Carroll

Theme With Variations

I never loved a dear Gazelle—

Nor anything that cost me much:

High prices profit those who sell,

But why should I be fond of such?

To glad me with his soft black eye

My son comes trotting home from school;

He's had a fight but can't tell why—

He always was a little fool!

by Lewis Carroll

Fit The Sixth - The Barrister's Dream

They sought it with thimbles, they sought it with care;

They pursued it with forks and hope;

They threatened its life with a railway-share;

They charmed it with smiles and soap.

But the Barrister, weary of proving in vain

That the Beaver's lace-making was wrong,

Fell asleep, and in dreams saw the creature quite plain

That his fancy had dwelt on so long.

by Lewis Carroll

Phantasmagoria Canto V ( Byckerment )

"DON'T they consult the 'Victims,' though?"

I said. "They should, by rights,

Give them a chance - because, you know,

The tastes of people differ so,

Especially in Sprites."

The Phantom shook his head and smiled.

"Consult them? Not a bit!

'Twould be a job to drive one wild,

by Lewis Carroll

Phantasmagoria Canto II ( Hys Fyve Rules )

"MY First - but don't suppose," he said,

"I'm setting you a riddle -

Is - if your Victim be in bed,

Don't touch the curtains at his head,

But take them in the middle,

"And wave them slowly in and out,

While drawing them asunder;

And in a minute's time, no doubt,

by Lewis Carroll

A Strange Wild Song

He thought he saw an Elephant,

That practised on a fife:

He looked again, and found it was

A letter from his wife.

'At length I realise,' he said,

The bitterness of Life!'

He thought he saw a Buffalo

Upon the chimney-piec e:

by Lewis Carroll

The White Rabbit's Verses

They told me you had been to her,

And mentioned me to him;

She gave me a good character,

But said I could not swim.

He sent them word I had not gone.

(We know it to be true.)

If she should push the matter on,

What would become of you?

by Lewis Carroll

Melancholetta

WITH saddest music all day long

She soothed her secret sorrow:

At night she sighed "I fear 'twas wrong

Such cheerful words to borrow.

Dearest, a sweeter, sadder song

I'll sing to thee to-morrow."

I thanked her, but I could not say

That I was glad to hear it:

by Lewis Carroll

Through The Looking Glass: Epilogue

A boat, beneath a sunny sky

Lingering onward dreamily

In an evening of July —

Children three that nestle near,

Eager eye and willing ear

Pleased a simple tale to hear —

Long has paled that sunny sky:

Echoes fade and memories die:

by Lewis Carroll

Echoes

Lady Clara Vere de Vere

Was eight years old, she said:

Every ringlet, lightly shaken, ran itself in golden thread.

She took her little porringer:

Of me she shall not win renown:

For the baseness of its nature shall have strength to drag her

down.

"Sisters and brothers, little Maid?

by Lewis Carroll

Lays Of Sorrow

The day was wet, the rain fell souse

Like jars of strawberry jam, [1] a

sound was heard in the old henhouse,

A beating of a hammer.

Of stalwart form, and visage warm,

Two youths were seen within it,

Splitting up an old tree into perches for their poultry

At a hundred strokes [2] a minute.

by Lewis Carroll

Phantasmagoria Canto III ( Scarmoges )

"AND did you really walk," said I,

"On such a wretched night?

I always fancied Ghosts could fly -

If not exactly in the sky,

Yet at a fairish height."

"It's very well," said he, "for Kings

To soar above the earth:

But Phantoms often find that wings -

by Lewis Carroll