Friday, November 16, 2007

Poetry Friday: Lobster Quadrille

[I found the photo of the snail here.]

Lucy and Carly Simon set Lewis Carroll's "The Lobster Quadrille" (from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) to music. So did I (soundfile forthcoming someday). There's a good chapter on the poem in Jacqueline Jackson's out-of-print homage to writing and reading children's books, Turn Not Pale Beloved Snail, a book that heavily inspired my childhood stories and poems.


THE LOBSTER QUADRILLE

"Will you walk a little faster?"
Said a whiting to a snail,
"There's a porpoise close behind us,
And he's treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters
And the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle -
Will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you,
Won't you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you,
Won't you, won't you join the dance?

"You can really have notion
How delightful it will be
When they take us up and throw us,
With the lobsters, out to sea!"
But the snail replied, "Too far, too far!"
And gave a look askance -
Said he thanked the whiting kindly,
But he would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not,
Could not, would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not,
Could not, could not join the dance.

"What matters it how far we go?"
His scaly friend replied,
"There is another shore, you know,
Upon the other side.
The further off from England
The nearer is to France -
Then turn not pale, beloved snail,
But come and join the dance.
Will you, won't you, will you,
Won't you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you,
Won't you, won't you join the dance?
--Lewis Carroll


Today's Poetry Friday Roundup is at Big A little a.

6 comments:

Rebecca Hickman said...

I can't wait to hear your sound clips!

Saints and Spinners said...

40 Forever: Thanks! I think if I keep promising them, eventually I'll have to get the technology (or finally work out a schedule with my brother).

Vivian Mahoney said...

This just makes me want to smile and dance! I second the sound clips!

Andromeda Jazmon said...

The poems in Lewis Carroll's books are my favorite part. I'd love to hear you do this one.

LindaBudz said...

Love this piece! I read it once at a church service where my dance group led the service. I normally hate public speaking, but this was such fun to read. I did get a few blank stares, but I was like, c'mon, people, will you or won't you join the dance?

Lone Star Ma said...

I love Lewis Carroll. And worry about it.