(no subject)

'Twas around 4 in the afternoon, and the badgers
were burrowing into the muddy hillside.
The parrots sat unhappily on their perches
as the turtles shrieked mournfully.

"Take heed of the beast the town rumors speak of, my son.
They speak of a creature whose teeth are like swords and whose claws are like vices."
His father continued, "If you should seek the beast, be careful
of the giant birds and violent, long-necked creatures. Take care, my son."

With his father's words of wisdom and love, the boy took up his sword,
setting off to find the mangy, fearsome beast.
After a while, he came to a large, hollow tree,
And stopped at its base, a resounding "thump" coming from it as he leaned against it,
gathering his thoughts on his hunt.

He had little time to gather them, however,
for the sound from the tree called his quarry to him!
It bounded and slinked through the trees,
the light of the setting sun reflecing off its eyes like a roaring blaze!

But he was more than ready for it. With a single, deft strike,
the fearsome creature's body and head parted company from one another.
Victory! With its severed head in tow,
the young hunter returned home, thoroughly ecstatic with his kill.

"You've done it, my son!" The hunter and his father reunited in celebration,
whooping and hollering and laughing in his achievement.

As their celebration went on, the wildlife around their home
continued on as if nothing had happened.
The badgers dug, the birds grumped, the turtles shrieked.
And all was well.


What you just read was a rough translation of "The Jabberwocky."