The time has come, the Walrus said.......
The Dim was shining on OT,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The paddocks smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
The berb was shining sulkily,
Because he thought Levy
Had got no business to be there
After the deal was done--
"It's very rude of him," he 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 berbs were flying overhead--
There were no berbs to fly.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
No berb and all these pounds:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"
"If seven spuds with seven mouths
Discuss 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.
"Hey, all you spuds, come walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the White Hart Lane:
25 Mill n’a penny more,
To bring the berb our way."
The eldest spudyid looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest spudyid winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose:
To Levy goes the bread.
But four young caftards 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 caftards followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the Berba thread,
And scrambling to hear more.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little caftards stood
And waited in a row.
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk with many words:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and berbs--
And why the league is boiling hot--
And whether spuds are herbs."
"But wait a bit," the caftards 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.
"Another mill," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
A contract and a pen besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, caftards dear,
We can begin, agreed?"
"Its Berba Time!" the caftards cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such waiting, that would be
A champion 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
"Get out of Lillywhite!”
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 sell so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The berb, he is so slick!"
"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With shirts and flags he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
"O caftards," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Your berb thread now has reached its end
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
The berb had fine’ly come.