***

“Jabberwocky”

by Lewis Carroll (1872)

‘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, has 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.

***

The Joys and Pains of Younger Siblings

by: Phyness McGary

There is this little being that I call sister or brother,

Most may understand what I mean when I say I’d rather not have another.

So when others ask what’s a younger sibling like?

It’s like having joys and pains that will last you your whole life.

But to truly define a younger sibling would be a hard thing to do,

So instead I will list the joys and pains of having a sibling or two.

The crying and whining and tear drops that fall,

The oddly drawn pictures, that mom put on the wall.

The begging and pleading, until getting their way,

It annoys you so much, you need a vacay.

The fighting and spitting, that leaves you babysitting, and

You reminiscing on the things that have gone missing!

At the same time, I think about when they always had my back,

And when they didn’t tell mom about the picture that I cracked.

Or when I make them laugh so hard they scream “I need to pee!”

I think to myself, “Well It wasn’t that funny to me.”

Plus when they say they would rather be like you,

It makes you want to shed a tear or two.

The smiles and memories that will never fade,

And always having someone to come to your aid.

The genetic blend, is the perfect best friend,

I think I have come to change my mind at the end!

Most would understand what I mean when I say,

“I’d like to have another sister or brother,”

But the final decision would have to be between my father and my mother. 

***