Sunday, April 14, 2013

CDXCVII - Jabberwocky - The Case for the Defence.

dVerse Poets has the prompt 'Monster'.

I felt it was time to correct a great wrong
in children's literature: the maligning of the Jabberwock.
Apoplogies to Lewis Carroll.


Jabberwocky - The Case for the Defence.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

◊◊◊

“Come sit by me” the old one said
“I’ll tell you of your father’s death”
A Jubjub listened from a Tumtum Tree
And a Bandersnatch held its breath.

"He was a truly manxome beast
Who could whiffle with the best.
He loved to roam the tulgey wood
And pick flowers, to be pressed.

He would burble as he tripped along,
In search of nuts and fruit,
Until he met that uffish brat
With vorpal sword and tinny suit.

One, two!  One two! that awful thug
Attacked him in a frenzied spell.
Not only did he kill your dad,
He beheaded him as well!

We heard much chortling from the town:
“Callooh, callay, the beast is dead”
But the woods were a less frabjous place
When the Jabberwock was dead."

◊◊◊

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.


---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2013
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33 comments:

  1. less fradjous indeed...ah i wonder how many a tale was spun from the killing of an innocent beast to fit the pride of a hero a questing...ha...really cool work on the dialect as well...

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  2. It has a 'Ferdinand the Bull' feel to it.

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  3. What a good retelling! Will the new Jabberwock kill the "offish brat, with vorpal sword and tinny suit" in the next retelling?

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  4. Tis brillig!I became all mimsied and gimbled reading this. You have mastered the semantic style. Now let's see what you can do with Shakespeare.

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  5. Terrific pastiche - loved it.

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  6. I wonder if the Jubjub bird passed on the real story! So loved this alternative perspective!

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  7. that was an enjoyable read...love your voice and dialect in it... a truly wonderful different perspective

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  8. Thank you. I have always had a weakness for the Jabberwocky and it is very nice to see him vindicated at last.

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  9. Great poem, fabulous final verse.

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  10. Oh this is great! I love the different perspective.

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  11. He loved to roam the tulgey wood - As you roam with expertise in this poem. My compliments and well done.

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  12. I like the accent & voice ~ Indeed things are different when the fabulous beast is dead ~

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  13. Down with the Jabberwock. :)

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  14. I really enjoyed this... you have quite the imagination and are quite clever as well...

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  15. I love your tale (to the offspring) of how the Jabberwock lost his life and that he was a misunderstood and gentle beast. Enjoyed the language...frabjous!

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  16. Well written... a unique piece!! :))

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  17. History is written by the victor.

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  18. Oh, this is so, so wonderful!! That is one of my favorite poems, my sister and I can recite it by memory--I'm going to send her this, she will love it!! Absolutely brilliant re-write of history :-)

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  19. Thank you
    What a wonderful visit and a real treat.
    ZQ

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  20. Wonderful! I envy your ability to emulate, bringing such life to the story !

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  21. Oh, lovely. I am delighted to see the dear Jabberwock's honour defended. I think even Lewis Carroll would be impressed.

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  22. Winsome Carrollish words well welded.

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  23. wonderful piece of work...

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  24. Kind of makes me feel sorry for the jabberwock!

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  25. Love it.. a true tribute as well.

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  26. Very cool indeed...much enjoyed!

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  27. After having to spend some time away from the poetry blogs, I get the pleasure of coming here to read this perfect example of Cosmo doing what Cosmo does. Very well done!

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    Replies
    1. What can I say? Being Cosmo seems to come naturally. :-)

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  28. I enjoyed this!

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