Brimming with Snarks (Needs finish)

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 what seems a most singular adventure. 

They figure in Poe's 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 appear few.

 
“Let's us be of best cheer,” states the brewer of beer.
“’Twould appear we’re all here, safe and sound.”
“Yet don’t cadges remain…?” asks the badger. “Explain
how we’ll wade but evade being drown’d…?”
 
Now the braumeister's blanching; saliva he's stanching.
(Most figure it's fear trigg'ring spittle.)
Then, preserving his cool, he observes, “This here pool…?
Mercy me! Can't you see it’s too little…?”
 
Other souls might agree. But the bowler's less twee.
“Drown gossoons in lagoons no less shallow.”
Here the bagman breaks in. “Brother, where have you been…?
Kids have vim. Kids can swim. You’re too callow.”

As if making an answer, the Sheik's belly-dancer,

seen laying (not playing) aside

pairs of oval-shaped zills, shares, "Too slow grind God's mills.

How'll we know if it's low or high tide...?"

Then the bursar remarks, "I'm quite sure I've seen snarks --

quite a lot -- ply this waterway...nu...?

Whether empty or deep, 'twill not tempt me to leap

feet- or head-first. I dread it. Don't you...?"

The ballet-master, then -- one whose nom de danse, Ben,

is well-known from Bayonne to Benghazi --

speaks six syllables clear: "Bleak and chill be this mere."

(Ben won't wade, 'less he's made to by Stazi.)

From the bluesman, till now, neither "farvel" nor "ciao"

seems forthcoming; just humming 'n' jiving.

Then, in twelve (or so) bars, once he'd shelv'd his guitars,

he gives out with this shout: "I'm for diving!"

The barista agrees. "Slap my wrist if it please,

but I, too'd, also, dude, love to gambol

and cavort in the brine. Watersport is of mine

number one on this fun list. Let's ramble!"

  

(To be continued)

Some Imminent Swimmers: 

Batter, 

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...