As it fell upon a day (Early Carroll verse)

As it fell upon a day is a piece of early verse by Carroll. Here it is in full!

There's honestly something deeply fascinating about Carroll's early verse - almost as if you can sense Carroll's talents for absurd nonsense evolving. 


As I was sitting on the hearth

(And O, but a hog is fat!)

A man came hurrying up the path,

(And what care I for that?)


When he came the house unto,

His breath both quick and short he drew.



When he came before the door,

His face grew paler than before.


When he turned the handle round,

The man fell fainting to the ground.



When he crossed the lofty hall,

Once and again I heard him fall.


When he came up to the turret stair,

He shrieked and tore his raven hair.

When he came my chamber in,

(And O, but a hog is fat!)

I ran him through with a golden pin,

(And what care I for that?)