L is for Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky"

"L"obbing stones to decimate two birds today:  Poetry Fridays and the letter L.  

Jabberwocky(1855)

'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.

I have always loved this poem for multiple reasons.  I love that it is complete and utter nonsense, 

but it makes perfect sense.  I love that it is from Through the Looking Glass, which is a fondly 

remembered book from my childhood. I also love the message that the poem conveys:  fighting 

your demons despite their proclivity to multiply in the dark.  And I love some of the artwork that 

has been inspired by it, such as the following:

Not only do I really like this poem for all of the above reasons, but the name "Jabberwocky" is purely awesome and it influenced the name of one of my favorite dance troupes...JabbaWockeeZ.  They're Uh-Mazing!!

 Enjoy and happy Friday the 13th!!!