UNDERGROUND RESIDENTS
Nonsense Poems in Alice
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(Humpty Dumpty)
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In winter, when the fields are white,
I sing this song for your delight――

In spring, when woods are getting green,
I'll try and tell you what I mean:

In summer, when the days are long,
Perhaps you'll understand the song:

In autumn, when the leaves are brown,
Take pen and ink, and write it down.

I sent a message to the fish:
I told them“This is what I wish.”

The little fishes of the sea,
They sent an answer back to me.

The little fishes' answer was
“We cannot do it, Sir, because――”

I sent to them again to say
“It will be better to obey”.

The fishes answered, with a grin,
“Why, what a temper you are in!”

I told them once, I told them twice:
They would not listen to advice.

I took a kettle large and new,
Fit for the deed I had to do.

My heart went hop, my heart went thump:
I filled the kettle at the pump.

Then some one came to me and said
“The little fishes are in bed.”

I said to him, I said it plain,
“Then you must wake them up again.”

I said it very loud and clear:
I went and shouted in his ear.

But he was very stiff and proud:
He said,“You needn't shout so loud!”

And he was very proud and stiff:
He said“I'd go and wake them, if――”

I took a corkscrew from the shelf:
I went to wake them up myself.

And when I found the door was locked,
I pulled and pushed and kicked and knocked.

And when I found the door was shut,
I tried to turn the handle, but――
『鏡の国のアリス』第6章「ハンプティ・ダンプティ」
ハンプティ・ダンプティによる詩    
   
ノンセンス詩「ジャバウォッキー」を解説したハンプティ・ダンプティは、アリスの楽しみのために書かれた詩を暗唱してあげようと言います。それならば聞かないわけにはいかないと思うアリスですが…。
この詩はまず最初に四季から始まります。まだ詩が始まっていないと思ったアリスがいちいち言葉をはさむので、ハンプティは腹立ちながらも「I sent a message ……」と先を続けます。詩は尻切れとんぼで終わってしまうのですが、ハンプティはこれで全部だといいます。
詩の題は書かれていないので不明。

言葉は主従関係(ハンプティが主、言葉が従)によって意味が決定すると言い切るハンプティによるこの詩も、内容はハンプティが主で魚や家来が従になっています。が、魚も家来もあまり言うことは聞かないようです。
 
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