Jabberwocky Sequended

Years ago the poem Jabberwocky by that nutty Lewis Carroll grabbed my attention and held it long enough for me to write a sequel, where the boy who slew the Jabberwock managed to defeat the Jubjub bird.

I posted that Jubjub bird addition to my blog in June of 2011, where it received scant (or no) attention.

As the years pass me by I now think it time to finish my personal salutation to the impeccably bizarre Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (who also suffered from migraines). I actually put some thought into the new parts, so the Jubjub bird stanzas differ from my draft version. The Bandersnatch portion is entirely new.

Unlike my previous attempt, I strove to maintain the same syllabic count used in the original Jabberwocky. That took some doing. I actually had to use a spreadsheet to see the stanzas side by side. (Yes, for you Word people, I could have used columns, but then I'd not have room for syllabic count also!)

Yeah, I love spreadsheets

I shall endeavor to do some drawings (of my own, perhaps) and publish it as a short book. In case that doesn't happen, here is the Addended, Intended Sequel. Enjoy and feel free to comment!

With great homagility* to the original!

Jabberwocky Sequended **

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogroves,

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 he rested 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 borogroves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

-0-

Bright 'Twillig, and the slithy coles

Did lang and yunnle by the shore:

And sliet were the burrotoles,

wherever Owlettes did floar.

"Beware the JubJub bird, my lad!

For though the Jabberwock you slew,

Serrated beak and Talons grad,

Awaits a boy brave as you!"

He strapped his vorpal blade on back,

Upon bright chain and greaves he wore --

With the bait inside a burlap sack,

Jaunt to the scrathy shore.

As in the shoreward sea he splashed

the JubJub bird with wings arove

Down through the misty air it flashed

and flabbered as it dove!

A razor beak, the sack did snatch,

the knifely talons raked him sore.

At once the vorpal blade did catch -

The JubJub was no more.

Then healing wounds and severed wings

Among the feasts and dances grand.

While still the kingdom minstrel sings

the fight throughout the land.

Bright 'Twillig, and the slithy coles

Did lang and yunnle by the shore:

And sliet were the burrotoles,

when the Owlettes did floar.

-0-

Quite shillig, and the briny soles

Did sply and swamble in the sturf

Amid the twily funneroles

where rapscid anchove emburf

"Beware the Bandersnatch, my son!

Though the Jubjub bird you sundered,

For all its battles it has won

When lightninged and athundered!"

With vorpal edge upon his belt,

Midst the chaos sky he wandered.

After endless blue he crossed the veldt,

Toward his doom unpondered.

Amidst the Tumtum trees he slept,

'til Earthquake 'neath him sundered.

Aroused from slumber he then leapt,

Death around him Thundered!

Lightning blinded and Thunder struck!

The vorpal blade smote and parried,

With boundless heart and gracious luck,

Its blind eyes he carried.

The Jabberwock, the Jubjub bird,

and great the frumious Bandersnatch --

Strange beasts exist in measured word

And in dreamscapes they hatch.

Quite shillig, and the briny soles

Did sply and swamble in the sturf

Amid the twily funneroles

where rapscid anchove emburf

* Why, homage and humility, of course!

** Sequel, yet Ended