The Walrus and the Carpenter

In my last post I wrote about a luxury makeup product: Météorites Perles by Guerlain. Perles? Pearls? Hmmm, something popped up in my head : Oysters!.

Have you ever seen this footage in the movie 'Alice in Wonderland'(Disney, 1951)?
 Do you remember it?

(In Spanish)

Honestly, I swear, it was one of the most powerful film for me, in term of dramatic impact during my childhood. A Be-Bop trauma hahaha. Poor little oysters! I used to feel like crying when I saw it. They look so cute and adorable! and the wicked Walrus eat them! :(

Some years later, I read the narrative poem, written by Lewis Carroll in his book 'Through the Looking-Glass' , 'The Walrus and the Carpenter'. This book, from 1871, is a sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865).

The poem is recited in chapter four, in the book 'Through the Looking-Glass' , by the twins, Tweedledum and Tweedledee to Alice:

One night when both sun and moon were visible, a couple were walking down the beach: the Walrus and Carpenter. They came upon an offshore bed of oysters, and they invited to join them. Although the eldest oyster disapproved the idea, many little oysters followed them. After walking along the beach (a point is made of the fact that the oysters are all neatly shod despite having no feet), the couple are revealed to be predatory and eat all of the oysters. After hearing the poem, the good-natured Alice attempts to determine which of the two leading characters might be the more sympathetic, but is thwarted by the twins' further interpretation:

"I like the Walrus best," said Alice, "because you see he was a little sorry for the poor oysters."
"He ate more than the Carpenter, though," said Tweedledee. "You see he held his handkerchief in front, so that the Carpenter couldn't count how many he took: contrariwise."
"That was mean!" Alice said indignantly. "Then I like the Carpenter best—if he didn't eat so many as the Walrus."
"But he ate as many as he could get," said Tweedledum.
This was a puzzler. After a pause, Alice began, "Well! They were both very unpleasant characters—"

The sun was shining on the sea,

Shining with all his might:

He did his very best to make

The billows smooth and bright--

And this was odd, because it was

The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,

Because she thought the sun

Had got no business to be there

After the day was done-- 

"It's very rude of him," she said, 

"To come and spoil the fun!" 

The sea was wet as wet could be, 

The sands were dry as dry. 

You could not see a cloud, because 

No cloud was in the sky: 

No birds were flying overhead-- 

There were no birds to fly. 

The Walrus and the Carpenter 

Were walking close at hand; 

They wept like anything to see 

Such quantities of sand: 

"If this were only cleared away," 

They said, "it would be grand!" 

"If seven maids with seven mops 

Swept it for half a year. 

Do you suppose," the Walrus said, 

"That they could get it clear?" 

"I doubt it," said the Carpenter, 

And shed a bitter tear. 

"O Oysters, come and walk with us!" 

The Walrus did beseech. 

"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, 

Along the briny beach: 

We cannot do with more than four, 

To give a hand to each." 

The eldest Oyster looked at him, 

But never a word he said: 

The eldest Oyster winked his eye, 

And shook his heavy head-- 

Meaning to say he did not choose 

To leave the oyster-bed. 

But four young Oysters hurried up, 

All eager for the treat: 

Their coats were brushed, their faces washed, 

Their shoes were clean and neat-- 

And this was odd, because, you know, 

They hadn't any feet. 

Four other Oysters followed them, 

And yet another four; 

And thick and fast they came at last, 

And more, and more, and more-- 

All hopping through the frothy waves, 

And scrambling to the shore. 

The Walrus and the Carpenter 

Walked on a mile or so, 

And then they rested on a rock 

Conveniently low: 

And all the little Oysters stood 

And waited in a row. 

"The time has come," the Walrus said, 

"To talk of many things: 

Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax-- 

Of cabbages--and kings-- 

And why the sea is boiling hot-- 

And whether pigs have wings." 

"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried, 

"Before we have our chat; 

For some of us are out of breath, 

And all of us are fat!" 

"No hurry!" said the Carpenter. 

They thanked him much for that. 

"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said, 

"Is what we chiefly need: 

Pepper and vinegar besides 

Are very good indeed-- 

Now if you're ready, Oysters dear, 

We can begin to feed." 

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried, 

Turning a little blue. 

"After such kindness, that would be 

A dismal thing to do!" 

"The night is fine," the Walrus said. 

"Do you admire the view? 

"It was so kind of you to come!

And you are very nice!"

The Carpenter said nothing but

"Cut us another slice:

I wish you were not quite so deaf--

I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,

"To play them such a trick,

After we've brought them out so far,

And made them trot so quick!"

The Carpenter said nothing but

"The butter's spread too thick!"

"I weep for you," the Walrus said:

"I deeply sympathize."

With sobs and tears he sorted out

Those of the largest size, 

Holding his pocket-handkerchief 

Before his streaming eyes. 

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter, 

"You've had a pleasant run! 

Shall we be trotting home again?' 

But answer came there none-- 

And this was scarcely odd, because 

They'd eaten every one. 

To finish, I'll post a pic.It was taken a year ago in Temple Bar (Dublin). It's a famous dish over here. Oysters and a pint of Guinness...but no worries! I wouldn't eat them! however my father and my boyfriend love them! hahaha I'm gonna tell them, next time:

You're The Walrus and the Carpenter! xD

But....I hope they get along better! ^^ for my own sake!
(Just kidding :P)

Oysters&Guinness in Temple Bar (Dublin)

Love,

♡Lorena Be-Bop♡