The Jabberwocky

On the last leg of our crazy back and forth to Port Arthur on Saturday, I was driving, and by the end I was really tired.

Joey was a champ at keeping me awake.  He began reading excerpts from Alice in Wonderland, and Through the Looking Glass.  This was prompted by the Cheshire Cat moon that was in the sky that night.  You know, a crescent moon, that looks like the Cheshire Cat’s crazy grin with no head or body.

Eventually we got to The Jabberwocky.  Joey has this poem memorized, and as he read it, I began repeating it back to him – working to get it all memorized.  By the time we made it home, I had recited it correctly without assistance.  More importantly, I did not fall asleep while driving.

Yesterday we stopped by the Springfield/Serrins home to visit our godson on his birthday, and give him his present.  He is six years old! While we were there, I recited the poem for Debra and Rachel.  Hopefully they will vouch for the fact that I managed to say the whole thing without assistance, and very few mistakes.

I have included the poem here for anyone who is unfamiliar with it, and those who just want to read it again.  I would like to point out, that since I was driving when I memorized the poem, I did not read it at all.  In fact, other than the time I read Through the Looking Glass as a kid, typing the poem up right now is the first time I have seen it in print!  Proof, in case anyone missed this fact, that I am an auditory learner.  Joey was truly amazed that I was able to memorize the whole thing by hearing it.  Well, turn about is fair play – I’m completely dumbfounded by the fact that he can remember everything he ever reads!

The Jaberwocky by 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.

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