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.
But
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.
