A sequel to ‘Jabberwocky’ by Lewis Carroll
Past twestif, all the nochky kreets Did stwirk and smiggle in the glood: All thungry were the zilligeets, And the narvips twitwoo’d. “Acquire that Wocky’s head, I must- Those jaws that bit- from he who fought! Acquire its head, upending trust, As none were there to see it caught!” With gobsack slung upon his back, And sparing innish lad no thought Who “Callay!” murmured in his dreams, Grim trophy found that he had sought. And, as thrilated there he stood, The groary sire, of same surname, Came ‘pon him in dishmardened room, Exhuffling as he came! One, two! One, two! And through and through The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! Fool thief fell dead, and then his head Fell ‘pon his fuffed gobsack. “My boy was he who slew the ‘wock! He’s earned the Queen of Heart’s reward! Arrogous crook! Gitfoo! Gitfook!” Leaned, spent, upon the bloory sword. Past twestif, all the nochky kreets Did stwirk and smiggle in the glood: All thungry were the zilligeets, And the narvips twitwoo’d.
d’Verse
For this month’s d’Verse ‘open link’, I am sharing a nonsense poem that I wrote some six months ago.
I couldn’t tell you what what possessed me to write this, exactly, but I had been playing with words and meanings in poetry, trying to find my voice… and that day, I found myself reciting the original ‘Jabberwocky’ poem to myself, wondering if I too couldn’t tell a story with my very own nonsense words.
It was harder than I’d expected to “find” words that both sounded good and carried their intended meanings well enough.
Anyway, the poem above was my result.
The original ‘Jabberwocky’
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.
You are so fucking creative man, it is damned beautiful, if you will forgive my anglo saxon cursing. Reminds me of a poem I wrote like yours, sardonic satire,
Bella
She walks in dogshit like the blight
From my brother’s filthy yard. I’ve
One thing fair to say of her: bright
Gleam her eyes beneath that stale hive
Of matted, tangled fur, a sight
Which heaven can scarce but leave alive.
One snarl the more, one tooth or less
Hath half impaled the separate beast
Who dared to touch her kibbled mess
Or stole her master’s pizza feast;
While thoughts serenely beg caress
How pure her kennel cage at least.
And on that snout, and o’er that brow
So fierce, so wild, yet eloquent,
The smile that wins, the wags that grow
To tell of days in lock down spent.
A dog that begs from far below,
A bite whose love is innocent!
With a pat on the head for Lord Byron.
Danial, you are certainly no less creative than I am!
That poem is amazing – I LOVED it! Thank you for sharing. Also ~ I forgive your cursing, as well as my own… I even have a tag I use for posts in which I use profanity 😁
Yours,
David
Lol
Eloquent biatch
Peace be with you David ben Alexander. It is an honor and a pleasure to share words with you. Rejoice with me that my son Judah’s wife is pregnant!
A HUGE Mazal Tov! to your family ❤
Will this be your first grandchild, Danial?
Yes. My first. October, God willing.
👏👏👏
💝
This is pretty dang excellent!
awwww! Thanks, Jenn ❤
-David
David, I had not the faintest idea that Lewis Carrol wrote this – I must find out about it and learn another English.
Indeed, Andrew! In fact, the word “chortled” that we use today came from this famous poem!
Wow no one chortled before then
Well done, you! There were some lines I really loved in there. “Exhuffling as he came” and “Fell ‘pon his fuffed gobsack”. You picked a little favourite of mine to write a sequel to and bravely took up the challenge to make up words that sound like they have meaning. Very fun and very clever! 🙂 Cheers, Worms 😉
Thanks so much, Worms❣️
-David
I smiled as I read this one! Your playful use of sniglets is lovely! Who knows, someday gobsack or thrilated will make it into the dictionary!
You are very kind, Muri. I really appreciate your support ❤
Yours,
David
You had me at Jabberwocky! 😄
“Twas brillig, and the slithy toves”
I had the pleasure of standing next to an actor recite this, a few months ago, in a walk-thru Covid-safe theater setting. 👏🏻 Your sequel is splendid!
Thanks SO much, Michele.
❤
David
This is SO amazing, David! I love this piece and I knew I heard the phrase gyre and gimble in the wabe from somewhere. 😀
💖Lucy💖
❤ ❤
I bow to your excellent writing. I fear I would need a hallucinogen to write such a great peom.
Lauren, how do you know that I didn’t? 😉
Because of your great skills, I assume the mind was merely creative, and not enhanced.
no comment
💊
hahahahaha
A guys gotta do what a guys gotta do
🤪
My ma se…kind…and he found his voice
Chutzpah!!!
Lewis must be smiling and giggling at the same time….
Exhuffling…classic …puff and pass
🚬
😚
💞
This made my morning! It’s brilliant and I can’t stop smiling!
Tricia
Blog: https://myitalianletters.wordpress.com/ Book of poems: https://books.google.com/books/about/Stones_in_the_Stream.html
Sent from my iPhone
>
I’m so glad that you like it, Tricia ❤
Sincerely,
David
I know how hard these are to write, well done.
Thanks, Pete 🙏
-David
This was my favourite poem as a kid and I could recite it by heart! Nice sequel 🙂
Well, now, in your copious free time ( 😉 ), you can memorize this sequel, Ingrid.
❤
David
I’ll get Benji to do it 😂
maybe he could write the sequel to the sequel! 😀
Jabberwocky 3: The Jabberwock’s Revenge!
Yes!
Or – Return of the Jabberwock,
Or – The Jabberwock strikes back
Jabberwock versus Benjamin!
That’s not even a contest!
I know, poor Jabberwock!
💂⚔️👹
I remember the first time I had read this poem, I was so confused and startled by all the new words. It was hilarious to me. But slowly it started making a little more sense and I loved your word play. Such creativity! 🤩
Shruba,
Yes, it makes infinitely more sense if you’ve read Alice in Wonderland and/or are familiar with the original poem 😀
Otherwise it really does just seem like I’m on drugs!
❤
David
Exactly haha. I had read Alice as a child and back then there were large chunks of it that i didn’t understand but in my hurry to know the story I just rushed forward ignoring what didn’t seem to make sense to me. Just like I used to do with big words, skim it and leave it. Bad habit lol. But when I reread it again as a high school student, it was a bizarre experience. 💜
Yeah – it’s for children, but it’s utterly brilliant and not at all simplistic from an adult perspective!
Whoa, that was an incredible play with words!! I remember reading the original poem and being completely in awe of the writing. This would fit right in that world; it’s novel and creative!
Novel, but not from the novel, eh, D.? 😉
Thanks!
David
No, more like, I was caught off guard by the novelty of this poem 😂 Of course!
D., I understand that – I was just making a play on words, that’s all – sorry, my silliness overtook me! 😂
Yours,
David
Oh, don’t apologise, it was brilliant! 👏😂
My brother-in-law has asked me more than once why I apologize all the time. I think it’s because I grew up in the USA (he grew up in Russia) 🤷♂️
An ambitious project to write a sequel to the Jabberwocky. Your poem is a fun continuation of Lewis Carroll’s. Those nonsense words not only sound neat, they are also neat descriptors. Well crafted 🙂
Thank you so very much, Dave. I really appreciate your words.
Sincerely,
David
[…] Chutzpah, or: Vorpal — The skeptic’s kaddish […]
❤
So much fun, David! I used to be able to recite Jabberwocky. The first stanza sounded like Yiddish to me (nochky kreets–some kind of food 😀), and I’m imagining Billy Crystal reciting this.
Thanks, Merril – I’m so glad that you enjoyed this! And I love Billy Crystal‼️
Shabbat shalom,
David
Shabbat shalom, David. 😀
Really good!
I used to know Jabberwocky off by heart. I’m not sure that I still do…
🤡 Well, now you can memorize the sequel instead 🤡
Brilliantly done.
🙏🙏Ken🙏🙏
Creative, thy name is Ben. Wow is totally inadequate to describe my reaction to this bit of brilliance.
Thanks so much, Helen ❤
I really appreciate it!
Yours,
David
It works! I had to look up vorpal which clicks into place so well.
It was a lot of fun to write this one 😁
Thanks, Lisa!
Yours,
David
You’re welcome 🙂
This is absolutely FANTASTIC, David!💝 I love; “Past twestif, all the nochky kreets/Did stwirk and smiggle in the glood.” You should be very proud of yourself and this poem 😀
Sanaa, I am deeply touched by your kind compliment. Thank you!
💛
David
I share your affinity for nonsense words. Jabberwocky is a poem I re-read time and again, and yours is equally clever. I admire your wordsmithing a great deal, my friend!!
I’m SO glad you think so!
Thank you, Bev!
💛
David
Oh I would love to hear you read this one…
Maybe I will, Björn 😀
Thanks! ❤
David