This is one of my favourite early poems by Carroll.
Not only does it parody gothic literature, here Carroll hones his dream narrative writing craft.
A modest start, but it does foreshadow Carroll's later use of dreams quite nicely!
Methought I walked a dismal place
Dim horrors all around;
The air was thick with many a face,
And black as night the ground.
I saw a monster come with speed,
Its face of grimmliest green,
On human beings used to feed,
Most dreadful to be seen.
I could not speak, I could not fly,
I fell down in that place,
I saw the monster’s horrid eye
Come leering in my face!
Amidst my scarcely-stifled groans,
Amidst my moanings deep,
I heard a voice,
“Wake! Mr. Jones,
you’re screaming in your sleep!”
