When awful darkness and silence reign Over the great Gromboolian plain, Through the long, long wintry nights; When the angry breakers roar As they beat on the rocky shore; When Storm-clouds brood on the towering heights Of the Hills of the Chankly Bore,– Then, through the vast and gloomy dark There moves what seems a […]

Two old Bachelors were living in one house; One caught a Muffin, the other caught a Mouse. Said he who caught the Muffin to him who caught the Mouse,– “This happens just in time! For we’ve nothing in the house, Save a tiny slice of lemon and a teaspoonful of honey, And what to do […]

King and Queen of the Pelicans we; No other Birds so grand we see! None but we have feet like fins! With lovely leathery throats and chins! Ploffskin, Pluffskin, Pelican jee! We think no Birds so happy as we! Plumpskin, Ploshkin, Pelican Jill! We think so then, and we thought so still We live on […]

I. On the Coast of Coromandel Where the early pumpkins blow, In the middle of the woods Lived the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo. Two old chairs, and half a candle, One old jug without a handle,– These were all his worldly goods: In the middle of the woods, These were all the worldly goods Of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, Of […]

I. The Pobble who has no toes Had once as many as we; When they said, “Some day you may lose them all;” He replied, “Fish fiddle de-dee!” And his Aunt Jobiska made him drink Lavender water tinged with pink; For she said, “The World in general knows There’s nothing so good for a Pobble’s […]

There lived an old man in the Kingdom of Tess, Who invented a purely original dress; And when it was perfectly made and complete, He opened the door and walked into the street. By way of a hat he’d a loaf of Brown Bread, In the middle of which he inserted his head; His Shirt […]

I. Mr. and Mrs. Discobbolos Climbed to the top of a wall. And they sate to watch the sunset sky, And to hear the Nupiter Piffkin cry, And the Biscuit Buffalo call. They took up a roll and some Camomile tea, And both were as happy as happy could be, Till Mrs. Discobbolos said,– “Oh! […]

I. On the top of the Crumpetty Tree The Quangle Wangle sat, But his face you could not see, On account of his Beaver Hat. For his Hat was a hundred and two feet wide, With ribbons and bibbons on every side, And bells, and buttons, and loops, and lace, So that nobody ever could […]

An Indian Poem. I. She sate upon her Dobie, To watch the Evening Star, And all the Punkahs, as they passed, Cried, “My! how fair you are!” Around her bower, with quivering leaves, The tall Kamsamahs grew, And Kitmutgars in wild festoons Hung down from Tchokis blue. II. Below her home the river rolled With […]

Who, or why, or which, or what, Is the Akond of SWAT? Is he tall or short, or dark or fair? Does he sit on a stool or a sofa or chair, or SQUAT, The Akond of Swat? Is he wise or foolish, young or old? Does he drink his soup and his coffee cold, […]

A A was an Area Arch Where washerwomen sat; They made a lot of lovely starch To starch Papa’s Cravat. B B was a Bottle blue, Which was not very small; Papa he filled it full of beer, And then he drank it all. C C was Papa’s gray Cat, Who caught a squeaky Mouse; […]

A tumbled down, and hurt his Arm, against a bit of wood, B said. “My Boy, oh, do not cry; it cannot do you good!” C said, “A Cup of Coffee hot can’t do you any harm.” D said, “A Doctor should be fetched, and he would cure the arm.” E said, “An Egg beat […]

There was a young person of Bantry, Who frequently slept in the pantry; When disturbed by the mice, she appeased them with rice, That judicious young person of Bantry. There was an Old Man at a Junction, Whose feelings were wrung with compunction When they said, “The Train’s gone!” he exclaimed, “How forlorn!” But remained […]

The Absolutely Abstemious Ass, who resided in a Barrel, and only lived on Soda Water and Pickled Cucumbers. The Bountiful Beetle, who always carried a Green Umbrella when it didn’t rain, and left it at home when it did. The Comfortable Confidential Cow, who sate in her Red Morocco Arm Chair and toasted her own […]

I. Once Mr. Daddy Long-legs, Dressed in brown and gray, Walked about upon the sands Upon a summer’s day: And there among the pebbles, When the wind was rather cold, He met with Mr. Floppy Fly, All dressed in blue and gold; And, as it was too soon to dine, They drank some periwinkle-wine, And […]

I. They went to sea in a sieve, they did; In a sieve they went to sea: In spite of all their friends could say, On a winter’s morn, on a stormy day, In a sieve they went to sea. And when the sieve turned round and round, And every one cried, “You’ll all be […]