when the rains fall   

relentlessly they fall 

into swimming pools, these otherwise   

bright and scary 

arachnids. They can swim 

a little, but not for long 

and they can’t climb the ladder out. 

They usually drown—but   

if you want their favor, 

if you believe there is justice,   

a reward for not loving 

the death of ugly 

and even dangerous (the eel, hog snake,   

rats) creatures, if 

you believe these things, then   

you would leave a lifebuoy 

or two in your swimming pool at night. 

And in the morning   

you would haul ashore 

the huddled, hairy survivors 

and escort them 

back to the bush, and know, 

be assured that at least these saved,   

as individuals, would not turn up 

again someday 

in your hat, drawer, 

or the tangled underworld 

of your socks, and that even— 

when your belief in justice 

merges with your belief in dreams— 

they may tell the others 

in a sign language   

four times as subtle 

and complicated as man’s 

that you are good,   

that you love them, 

that you would save them again.

      Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: 

All mimsy were the borogoves, 

      And the mome raths outgrabe. 

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son! 

      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— 

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, 

      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. 

“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 

      Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: 

All mimsy were the borogoves, 

      And the mome raths outgrabe.