All in the golden afternoon <br />Full leisurely we glide; <br />For both our oars, with little skill, <br />By little arms are plied, <br />While little hands make vain pretense <br />Our wanderings to guide. <br /> <br />Ah, cruel Three! In such an hour, <br />Beneath such dreamy weather, <br />To beg a tale of breath too weak <br />To stir the tiniest feather! <br />Yet what can one poor voice avail <br />Against three tongues together? <br /> <br />Imperious Prima flashes forth <br />Her edict to "begin it"-- <br />In gentler tones Secunda hopes <br />"There will be nonsense in it"-- <br />While Tertia interrupts the tale <br />Not more than once a minute. <br /> <br />Anon, to sudden silence won, <br />In fancy they pursue <br />The dream-child moving through a land <br />Of wonders wild and new, <br />In friendly chat with bird or beast-- <br />And half believe it true. <br /> <br />And ever, as the story drained <br />The wells of fancy dry, <br />And faintly strove that weary one <br />To put the subject by, <br />"The rest next time"--"It is next time!" <br />The happy voices cry. <br /> <br />Thus grew the tale of Wonderland: <br />Thus slowly, one by one, <br />Its quaint events were hammered out-- <br />And now the tale is done, <br />And home we steer, a merry crew, <br />Beneath the setting sun. <br /> <br />Alice! a childish story take, <br />And with a gentle hand <br />Lay it where Childhood's dreams are twined <br />In Memory's mystic band, <br />Like pilgrim's withered wreath of flowers <br />Plucked in a far-off land. <br /> <br /> <br />Submitted by foolish Paeter<br /><br />Lewis Carroll<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/all-in-the-golden-afternoon/
