Monday 27 February 2012

Tweedledum, Tweedledum, Tweedledee

The 1951 editions, from Disney's 'Alice in Wonderland'

I have a tale to tell,
So listen well,
Tweedledum, Tweedledum, Tweedledee

There was a tower,
A fool’s pursuit of power,
Tweedledum, Tweedledum, Tweedledee

Upon whose moat,
I sailed in a boat,
Tweedledum, Tweedledum, Tweedledee

Squashed in like cattles,
With those two toffee apples
Tweedledum, Tweedledum, Tweedledee

But I had a slip,
And sink did that ship,
Tweedledum, Tweedledum, Tweedledee

For an old bath tub,
Is better as a sub,
Tweedledum, Tweedledum, Tweedledee

So sank the adventurous three,
Those jolly old twins and me,
Tweedledum, Tweedledee and me.


I had some fun writing this poem a year or so ago in a moment of silliness.

I've always enjoyed the Alice in Wonderland story as the epitome of letting the imagination fly and had recently watched the new 3D movie. 

I enjoy the beat, and musical nature of this poem as well as it's obvious nonsense nature.


What do you think? Can you think of any other verses?

 
The origin
The Tweedledum and Tweedledee characters were inspired by an original 18th century piece from English poet John Byrom:

"Tweedledum and Tweedledee
Agreed to have a battle;
For Tweedledum said Tweedledee
Had spoiled his nice new rattle.

Just then flew down a monstrous crow,
As black as a tar-barrel;
Which frightened both the heroes so,
They quite forgot their quarrel."



Image from John Tenniel's illustration in Lewis Carroll's 'Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There', originally published 1871.
 

8 comments:

  1. This was quite the fun read... thanks so much for sharing!

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  2. Haha thanks, was also enjoyable to write!

    Feel free to share any of your poems here.

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  3. Or come up with extra verses!

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  4. I decided to enter this poem for the latest dVerse Poets Pub poetics challenge for poems on the theme of the 'fun fair' (http://dversepoets.com/).

    One of the great things about fun fairs, theme parks, carnivals is the fun, the laughter, the crazyness.

    When writing this poem I tried to capture this sense of madness and fantasy and has fun doing so.

    I would appreciate any feedback and possible extra verses!

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    Replies
    1. I should add that my two favourite literary clowns would have to be the two mentioned, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee!

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  5. i'm singing along with you...Tweedledum, Tweedledum, Tweedledee...smiles...yeah..works well.. as a kid i was always a bit scared of some of the crazy people alice met along the way..

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  6. I like this very much - and thanks for the Tenniel.

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  7. ha it is fun and makes me think of disney world a bit...and alice had some interesting adventures for sure...i def would not have minded coming along to dance the edge of cazy

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