I had planned to post a selection of epigrams for this year’s post-a-favorite-poem entry today, but Maureen Mullarkey’s commentary yesterday on Chicago finger food as served by Cardinal Cupich<\/a> calls for more Lewis Carroll. So, here’s “The Walrus and the Carpenter.”<\/p>\n The sun was shining on the sea, The moon was shining sulkily, The sea was wet as wet could be, <\/p>\n The Walrus and the Carpenter ‘If seven maids with seven mops ‘O Oysters, come and walk with us!’ The eldest Oyster looked at him, But four young Oysters hurried up, Four other Oysters followed them, The Walrus and the Carpenter ‘The time has come,’ the Walrus said, ‘But wait a bit,’ the Oysters cried, ‘A loaf of bread,’ the Walrus said, ‘But not on us!’ the Oysters cried, It was so kind of you to come! ‘It seems a shame,’ the Walrus said, ‘I weep for you,’ the Walrus said: ‘O Oysters,’ said the Carpenter, I had planned to post a selection of epigrams for this year’s post-a-favorite-poem entry today, but Maureen Mullarkey’s commentary yesterday on Chicago finger food as served by Cardinal Cupich calls for more Lewis Carroll. So, here’s “The Walrus and the Carpenter.” The sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might: He did … Continue reading “Why is<\/i> the sea boiling hot?”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,10,35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-161433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-catholicism","category-decline-and-fall","category-words"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4xam3-FZL","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/shuffly.net\/zoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/shuffly.net\/zoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/shuffly.net\/zoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shuffly.net\/zoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shuffly.net\/zoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=161433"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"http:\/\/shuffly.net\/zoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161433\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":161983,"href":"http:\/\/shuffly.net\/zoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161433\/revisions\/161983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/shuffly.net\/zoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=161433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shuffly.net\/zoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=161433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shuffly.net\/zoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=161433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nShining with all his might:
\nHe did his very best to make
\nThe billows smooth and bright \u2014
\nAnd this was odd, because it was
\nThe middle of the night.<\/p>\n
\nBecause she thought the sun
\nHad got no business to be there
\nAfter the day was done \u2014
\n‘It’s very rude of him,’ she said,
\n‘To come and spoil the fun.’<\/p>\n
\nThe sands were dry as dry.
\nYou could not see a cloud, because
\nNo cloud was in the sky:
\nNo birds were flying overhead \u2014
\nThere were no birds to fly.<\/p>\n
\nWere walking close at hand;
\nThey wept like anything to see
\nSuch quantities of sand:
\n‘If this were only cleared away,’
\nThey said, it would be grand!’<\/p>\n
\nSwept it for half a year,
\nDo you suppose,’ the Walrus said,
\nThat they could get it clear?’
\n‘I doubt it,’ said the Carpenter,
\nAnd shed a bitter tear.<\/p>\n
\nThe Walrus did beseech.
\n‘A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
\nAlong the briny beach:
\nWe cannot do with more than four,
\nTo give a hand to each.’<\/p>\n
\nBut never a word he said:
\nThe eldest Oyster winked his eye,
\nAnd shook his heavy head \u2014
\nMeaning to say he did not choose
\nTo leave the oyster-bed.<\/p>\n
\nAll eager for the treat:
\nTheir coats were brushed, their faces washed,
\nTheir shoes were clean and neat \u2014
\nAnd this was odd, because, you know,
\nThey hadn’t any feet.<\/p>\n
\nAnd yet another four;
\nAnd thick and fast they came at last,
\nAnd more, and more, and more \u2014
\nAll hopping through the frothy waves,
\nAnd scrambling to the shore.<\/p>\n
\nWalked on a mile or so,
\nAnd then they rested on a rock
\nConveniently low:
\nAnd all the little Oysters stood
\nAnd waited in a row.<\/p>\n
\n‘To talk of many things:
\nOf shoes \u2014 and ships \u2014 and sealing-wax \u2014
\nOf cabbages \u2014 and kings \u2014
\nAnd why the sea is boiling hot \u2014
\nAnd whether pigs have wings.’<\/p>\n
\n‘Before we have our chat;
\nFor some of us are out of breath,
\nAnd all of us are fat!’
\n‘No hurry!’ said the Carpenter.
\nThey thanked him much for that.<\/p>\n
\nIs what we chiefly need:
\nPepper and vinegar besides
\nAre very good indeed \u2014
\nNow if you’re ready, Oysters dear,
\nWe can begin to feed.’<\/p>\n
\nTurning a little blue.
\n‘After such kindness, that would be
\nA dismal thing to do!’
\n‘The night is fine,’ the Walrus said.
\nDo you admire the view?<\/p>\n
\nAnd you are very nice!’
\nThe Carpenter said nothing but
\n‘Cut us another slice:
\nI wish you were not quite so deaf \u2014
\nI’ve had to ask you twice!’<\/p>\n
\nTo play them such a trick,
\nAfter we’ve brought them out so far,
\nAnd made them trot so quick!’
\nThe Carpenter said nothing but
\n‘The butter’s spread too thick!’<\/p>\n
\n‘I deeply sympathize.’
\nWith sobs and tears he sorted out
\nThose of the largest size,
\nHolding his pocket-handkerchief
\nBefore his streaming eyes.<\/p>\n
\nYou’ve had a pleasant run!
\nShall we be trotting home again?’
\nBut answer came there none \u2014
\nAnd this was scarcely odd, because
\nThey’d eaten every one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"