The JabberWACKY

Jeff–Saturday

 

Perhaps because I’m in Europe at the moment, where attention is sharply focused on the continuing implications of the pandemic, and yet so many from so many different parts of the world fail to accept the benefits of vaccination, I knew I had to write something on the subject.   Yes, there are potential side effects—dear friends of mine have suffered greatly—but compared to the consequences of contracting Covid, I see no rational explanation—statistically or otherwise--for so many refusing. 

 

I doubt my parody of Lewis Carroll’s famous nonsense poem, “The Jabberwocky,” will change many minds, but considering the “Alice in Wonderland” state of so much of our world, it makes me feel better to have written it.

 

So there. Now go get JABBED.  Or be WACKY.

 

 

’Twas trilling amid the starlight doves

      Next fyre and rumble in the lobby:

All whimsy were the borough goves,

      As dark tombs reached out to grab we.

 

“Beware the JabberwAck, my son!

      The needle’s bite, the laws that latch!

Beware the Hubbub word, and shun

      The Faucious Covidsnatch!”

 

He took his verbal sword in hand;

      Long time all mainstream ploys he fought—

Now to choose among the falsities,

      That best to counter thought.

 

And, as in oafish thought he stood,

      The JabberwAck, with eyes of flame,

Whiffled to mind as one that could,

      Take blame for all that came!

 

All through and through he did it true,

      The verbal blade went on attack!

To press the lie and show the dead,

      He’d be galumphing back.

 

“And I hast slain the JabberwAck!

      Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Come see! Come pray!”

      He chortled in his joy.

 

’Twas trilling amid the starlight doves

      Next fyre and rumble in the lobby:

All whimsy were the borough goves,

      As dark tombs reached out to grab we.

 

Here’s the original version

 

 

Jabberwocky

By Lewis Carroll

 

’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 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 borogoves,

      And the mome raths outgrabe.

 

-–Jeff

 

Jeff’s upcoming events

Thursday, August 11
Fish & Olive Gallery—Halki, Naxos Island, Greece
European presentation of A Deadly Twist on the island where it is set
Learn more

Thursday, August 26, 5:00-5:50 p.m.
Bouchercon 2021—New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Marriott—La Galeries 2, 2nd Floor
Moderator, Mystery of Crafting Thrillers Set in Foreign Lands

Friday, August 27, 11:00-11:50 a.m.
Bouchercon 2021—New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Marriott—La Galeries , 4-5. 2nd Floor
Panelist, Thrillers in the World of Politics