Lewis Carroll featured twice five
characters in his
"The Hunting of the Snark": a Bellman, a Boots,
a
Bonnet-maker, a Barrister, a Broker, plus a
Billiard-marker, a Banker, a
Beaver, a Baker and
a Butcher. Once again a similar set of iso-initialed
characters embark on a seemingly singular ad-
venture. They figure in this new poetic
narrative
(though this time their number isn’t limited to ten:
see the list
following the verses). But except for
that numerical characteristic along with
several
vaguely similar treatments of meter and rhyme,
resemblances to the Carroll
classic are few.
“Let us be of
good cheer,”
said the Brewer of Beer.
“’Twould appear we’re all here,
“’Twould appear we’re all here,
safe and sound.”
“Yet, don’t questions remain…?”
“Yet, don’t questions remain…?”
ask’d the Badger. “Explain
how we’d wade...but evade
how we’d wade...but evade
being drown’d…?”
Then the Brewmeister
blanch’d,
as saliva he stanch’d.
(His peers figured fears trigger’d
(His peers figured fears trigger’d
his spittle.)
Then, regaining his cool,
Then, regaining his cool,
he observ’d, “This wee pool…?
Do get real! Don’t you feel
Do get real! Don’t you feel
it’s too little…?”
(To be continued)
Future Swimmers: Bowler,
Belly-dancer, Bursar,
Ballet-master, Barrista, Batter,
Bluesman, Bridgebuilder,
Brick-layer, Bridesmaid,
Busboy, Buffalo soldier, Burger-flipper Best
man,
Bench-warmer, Bible salesman, Bouncer, Ball boy,
Bellhop, Bassist, Bugler,
Bandit, Basketball player,
Brigadier, Butter-and-egg man, Basket weaver,
Brakeman, Bicyclist, Bill collector, Bean counter,
Beekeeper, Beefeater,
Beggar, Babbit, Backdoor
man, Bacarat dealer, Badminton
player, Baedeker
editor, Bagman, Banjo picker, Bap maker...
