He thought he saw an Elephant
That practised on a fife:
He looked again, and found it was
A letter from his wife.
«At length I realize,» he said,
«The bitterness of life!»

He thought he saw a Buffalo
Upon the chimney-piece:
He looked again, and found it was
His Sister’s Husband’s Niece.
«Unless you leave this house,» he said,
«I’ll send for the police!»

He thought he saw a Rattlesnake
That questioned him in Greek:
He looked again, and found it was
The Middle of Next Week.
«The one thing I regret,» he said,
«Is that it cannot speak!»

He thought he saw a Banker’s Clerk
Descending from the bus:
He looked again, and found it was
A Hippopotamus.
«If this should stay to dine,» he said,
«There won’t be much for us!»

He thought he saw a Kangaroo
That worked a Coffee-mill:
He looked again, and found it was
A Vegetable-Pill.
«Were I to swallow this,» he said,
«I should be very ill!»

He thought he saw a Coach-and-Four
That stood beside his bed:
He looked again, and found it was
A Bear without a Head.
«Poor thing,» he said, «poor silly thing!
It’s waiting to be fed!»

av Lewis Carroll

Lagre