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
Had got no business to be
there
After the day was done --
'It's very rude of him.' she
said,
'To come and spoil the fun!'
The sea was wet as wet could
be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud,
because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying
overhead --
There were no birds to fly.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand:
They wept like anything to
see
Such quantities of sand:
'If this were only cleared
away,'
They said, 'it would be grand.'
'If seven maids with seven
mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose,' the Walrus
said,
'That they could get it
clear?'
'I doubt it,' said the
Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
'O Oysters,
come and walk with us!
The Walrus did beseech.
'A pleasant walk, a pleasant
talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than
four,
To give a hand to each.'
The eldest Oyster looked at
him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his
eye,
And shook his heavy head --
Meaning to say he did not
choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
Out four young Oysters
hurried up.
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed,
their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat --
And this was odd, because,
you know,
They hadn't any feet.
Four other Oysters followed
them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came
at last,
And more, and more, and more --
All hopping through the
frothy waves,
And scrambling to the
shore.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a
rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters
stood
And waited in a row.
'The time has come,' the
Walrus said,
'To talk of many things:
Of shoes -- and ships -- and
sealing wax --
Of cabbages -- and kings --
And why the sea is boiling
hot --
And whether pigs have
wings.'
'But wait a bit,' the
Oysters cried,
'Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of
breath,
And all of us are fat!'
'No hurry!' said the
Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
'A loaf of bread,' the
Walrus said,
'Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed --
Now, if you're ready,
Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed.'
'But not on us!' the Oysters
cried,
Turning a little blue.
'After such kindness, that
would be
A dismal thing to do!'
'The night is fine,' the
Walrus said,
'Do you admire the view?'
'It was so kind of you to
come!
And you are very nice!'
The Carpenter said nothing
but
'Cut us another slice-
I wish you were not quite so
deaf-
I've had to ask you twice!'
'It seems a shame,' the
Walrus said,
'To play them such a trick.
After we've brought them out
so far,
And made them trot so quick!'
The Carpenter said nothing
but
'The butter's spread too thick!'
'I weep for you,'the Walrus said:
'I deeply sympathize.'
With sobs and tears he
sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his
pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
'O Oysters,' said the
Carpenter,
'You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home
again?'
But answer came there none --
And this was scarcely odd,
because
They'd eaten every one.