ÿþ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> <head> <META NAME="DESCRIPTION" CONTENT="A poem by Lewis Carroll. THE sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might... "> <META NAME="KEYWORDS" CONTENT="poems, paradoxical poems, nonsense poems, walrus, carpenter, lewis carroll"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="EN-GB"> <title>The Walrus and the Carpenter - curiouser.co.uk</title> <LINK REL="stylesheet" HREF="style3.css" TYPE="text/css"> <script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-13092328-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 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<br> The Walrus did beseech. <br> 'A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, <br> Along the briny beach: <br> We cannot do with more than four, <br> To give a hand to each.' <br> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> The eldest Oyster looked at him, <br> But never a word he said: <br> The eldest Oyster winked his eye, <br> And shook his heavy head -- <br> Meaning to say he did not choose <br> To leave the oyster-bed. <br> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> Out four young Oysters hurried up. <br> All eager for the treat: <br> Their coats were brushed, their faces washed, <br> Their shoes were clean and neat -- <br> And this was odd, because, you know, <br> They hadn't any feet. <br> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> Four other Oysters followed them, <br> And yet another four; <br> And thick and fast they came at last, <br> And more, and more, and more -- <br> All hopping through the frothy waves, <br> And scrambling to the shore. <br> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> The Walrus and the Carpenter <br> Walked on a mile or so, <br> And then they rested on a rock <br> Conveniently low: <br> And all the little Oysters stood <br> And waited in a row. <br> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> 'The time has come,' the Walrus said, <br> 'To talk of many things: <br> Of shoes -- and ships -- and sealing wax -- <br> Of cabbages -- and kings -- <br> And why the sea is boiling hot -- <br> And whether pigs have wings.' <br> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> 'But wait a bit,' the Oysters cried, <br> 'Before we have our chat; <br> For some of us are out of breath, <br> And all of us are fat!' <br> 'No hurry!' said the Carpenter. <br> They thanked him much for that. <br> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> 'A loaf of bread,' the Walrus said, <br> 'Is what we chiefly need: <br> Pepper and vinegar besides <br> Are very good indeed -- <br> Now, if you're ready, Oysters dear, <br> We can begin to feed.' <br> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> 'But not on us!' the Oysters cried, <br> Turning a little blue. <br> 'After such kindness, that would be <br> A dismal thing to do!' <br> 'The night is fine,' the Walrus said, <br> 'Do you admire the view?' <br> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> 'It was so kind of you to come! <br> And you are very nice!' <br> The Carpenter said nothing but <br> 'Cut us another slice - <br> I wish you were not quite so deaf - <br> I've had to ask you twice!' <br> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> 'It seems a shame,' the Walrus said, <br> 'To play them such a trick. <br> After we've brought them out so far, <br> And made them trot so quick!' <br> The Carpenter said nothing but <br> 'The butter's spread too thick!' <br> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> 'I weep for you,'the Walrus said: <br> 'I deeply sympathize.' <br> With sobs and tears he sorted out <br> Those of the largest size, <br> Holding his pocket-handkerchief <br> Before his streaming eyes. <br> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> 'O Oysters,' said the Carpenter, <br> 'You've had a pleasant run! <br> Shall we be trotting home again?' <br> But answer came there none -- <br> And this was scarcely odd, because <br> They'd eaten every one. <br> </p> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 2em"> Lewis Carroll </p> <div class="center" style="margin-top: 8em"> <div> <a href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/index.htm"> HOME </a> I <a href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/puzzles"> PUZZLES </a> I <a href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/paradoxes"> PARADOXES </a> I <a href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/illusions"> ILLUSIONS </a> I <a href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/poems"> POEMS </a> I <a href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/quotations"> QUOTATIONS </a> I <a href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/games"> GAMES </a> I <a href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/facts"> FACTS </a> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:3em; margin-top: 1em; font-size: 70%"> <A href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/stranger">STRANGER </a> I <A href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/donate">CONTRIBUTE </a> I <A href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/contact">CONTACT </a> I <A href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/runciblespoonsociety">JOIN THE SOCIETY </a> I <A href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/books">BOOKS </a> I <A href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/links">LINKS </a> I <A href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/privacy/privacy.htm">PRIVACY STATEMENT </a> I <A href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/sitemap.htm">SITE MAP </a> I <A href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk/google.htm">SEARCH </a> </div> <div class="bottom_ads"> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-2185628889904477"; /* 728x90, created 10/11/10 */ google_ad_slot = "6906520196"; google_ad_width = 728; google_ad_height = 90; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> <p style="margin-top:3em"> &copy; 2000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.curiouser.co.uk">curiouser.co.uk </a>All rights reserved. </p> </div> </div> </div> </body>