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, 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.
Alice in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll is most famous for his stories of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass, from which the Jabberwocky poem above is taken. You can find both of these delightful stories available in an inexpensive paperback here, or you might opt to purchase The Annotated Alice.
Here at The Tumtum Tree, we would consider the 1985 made-for-TV rendition starring Natalie Gregory as Alice, and including such names as Scott Baio, Shelly Winters, and Ringo Starr, to be the definitive video edition of Alice. Unfortunately, it is becoming a hard to find collectors item, and DVD versions are rare, but it is still available in VHS format on Amazon: Alice in Wonderland - VHS 1985, however, the price is going up as it gets more obscure, so get your hands on a copy while you still can.
The 1985 version was in two parts, with Through the Looking Glass picking up right after Alice returns home from Wonderland. Fortunately, the second half hasn't been sold out, and is more widely available at less expense: Through the Looking Glass - VHS 1985.
These films deserve more attention, and are far superior to the Disney version both in their faithfulness to the book and their general mood and fun factor. The music is silly and fantastic, and the acting is excellent. Highly recommended!