Phantasmagoria and Other Poems

Transcribed from the 1911 Macmillan and Co. edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
BY LEWIS CARROLL
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY ARTHUR B. FROST
MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN’S STREET, LONDON 1911
Richard Clay and Sons, Limited BRUNSWICK STREET, STAMFORD STREET, S.E., AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.
First published in 1869.
Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.
Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on the friendly knee, intent to ask The tale one loves to tell.
Rude scoffer of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if thou wilt, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!
Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguilded. Ah, happy he who owns the tenderest joy, The heart-love of a child!
Away, fond thoughts, and vex my soul no more! Work claims my wakeful nights, my busy days, Albeit bright memories of the sunlit shore Yet haunt my dreaming gaze.
One winter night, at half-past nine, Cold, tired, and cross, and muddy, I had come home, too late to dine, And supper, with cigars and wine, Was waiting in the study.