Poems by Lewis Carroll

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Size And Tears

WHEN on the sandy shore I sit,

Beside the salt sea-wave,

And fall into a weeping fit

Because I dare not shave -

A little whisper at my ear

Enquires the reason of my fear.

I answer "If that ruffian Jones

Should recognise me here,

Lewis Carroll

A Sea Dirge

THERE are certain things - as, a spider, a ghost,

The income-tax, gout, an umbrella for three -

That I hate, but the thing that I hate the most

Is a thing they call the Sea.

Pour some salt water over the floor -

Ugly I'm sure you'll allow it to be:

Suppose it extended a mile or more,

THAT'S very like the Sea.

Lewis Carroll

Photography Extraordinary

The Milk-and-Water School

Alas! she would not hear my prayer!

Yet it were rash to tear my hair;

Disfigured, I should be less fair.

She was unwise, I may say blind;

Once she was lovingly inclined;

Some circumstance

Lewis Carroll

The Mock Turtle's Song

Beautiful soup, so rich and green,

Waiting in a hot tureen!

Who for such dainties would not stoop?

Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!

Beau--ootiful Soo--oop! Beau--ootiful Soo--oop!

Soo--oop of the e--e--evening, Beautiful, beautiful Soup

Lewis Carroll

Dedication

Inscribed to a Dear Child:

In Memory of Golden Summer Hours

And Whispers of a Summer Sea

Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task,

Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well

Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask

The tale he loves to tell.

Rude spirits of the seething outer strife,

Lewis Carroll

The Three Voices

The First Voice

HE trilled a carol fresh and free,

He laughed aloud for very glee:

There came a breeze from off the sea:

It passed athwart the glooming flat -

It fanned his forehead as he sat -

It lightly bore away his hat,

Lewis Carroll

The Mad Hatter's Song

" — — it was at the great concert given by the

Queen of Hearts, and I had to sing

`Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!

How I wonder what you're at!'You know the song, perhaps?" "I've heard something like it," said Alice. "It goes on, you know," the Hatter continued,

"in this way: — —

`Up above the world you fly,

Like a teatray in the sky.

Twinkle, twinkle —'"

Lewis Carroll

Bessie's Song To Her Doll

Matilda Jane, you never look

At any toy or picture-book.

I show you pretty things in vain

You must be blind, Matilda Jane!

I ask you riddles, tell you tales,

But all our conversation fails.

You never answer me again

I fear you're dumb, Matilda Jane!

Lewis Carroll

Father William

"You are old, father William," the young man said,

"And your hair has become very white;

And yet you incessantly stand on your head —

Do you think, at your age, it is right?"

"In my youth," father William replied to his son,

"I feared it would injure the brain;

But now that I'm perfectly sure I have none,

Why, I do it again and again."

Lewis Carroll

The Crocodile

How doth the little crocodile

Improve his shining tail,

And pour the waters of the Nile

On every golden scale!

How cheerfully he seems to grin

How neatly spreads his claws,

And welcomes little fishes in,

With gently smiling jaws!

Lewis Carroll

The Walrus And The Carpenter

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

The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,

Because she thought the sun

Lewis Carroll

A Game Of Fives

Five little girls of Five, Four, Three, Two, One:

Rolling on the hearthrug, full of tricks and fun.

Five rosy girls, in years from Ten to Six:

Sitting down to lessons—no more time for tricks.

Five growing girls, from Fifteen to Eleven:

Music, Drawing, Languages, and food enough for seven!

Five winsome girls, from Twenty to Sixteen:

Each young man that calls, I say "Now tell me which you mean!"

Lewis Carroll