Daily Poetry Readings #48: Humpty Dumpty’s Recitation by Lewis Carroll read by Dr Iain McGilchrist

Part 48 of a daily series of readings of his favourite poetry by Dr Iain McGilchrist, author of The Master and His Emissary. Today’s poem is Humpty Dumpty’s Recitation by Lewis Carroll.

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~ Humpty Dumpty’s Recitation by Lewis Carroll ~

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—-