Text of the Poem 

’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!     5
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—     10
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,     15
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.     20

“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     25
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Footnotes

  1. The poem follows a regular meter and rhyme scheme, enhancing its sing-song quality, typical of Carroll's writing style.

    — Allegra Keys, Owl Eyes Editor

  2. Burbled is an example of an onomatopoeia.

    — Allegra Keys, Owl Eyes Editor

  3. Carroll uses invented words like "brillig," "slithy," "mimsy," and others, contributing to the playful, fantastical, and nonsensical atmosphere of the poem.

    — Allegra Keys, Owl Eyes Editor