Poem of the Day - "A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky" by Lewis Carroll (from Alice in Wonderland)

Alice Liddell (L) and Lewis Carroll (R)

Ah, the iconic masterpiece, Alice in Wonderland.  So much has been read into the story by Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), a legendary work with so much speculation -- analysis of metaphors and hidden meanings.  The inspiration of so many pop culture iconic works of art and literature(James Joyce, Nabokov, Joyce Carol Oates, and yes, "I am the Walrus" by John Lennon and the Beatles was inspired by "Alice").

Did you know that "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" were inspired by a real girl, named Alice?  This is NOT conjecture.  Her name is Alice Pleasance Lidell, and she is well known as the little girl who inspired Carroll to write the story.

The following poem is an excerpt from the novel written by Lewis Carroll.  Notice that it is an "acrostic" poem, and read the first letter down to the bottom!

Cool!   

A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky

By Lewis Carroll

A boat beneath a sunny sky,
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July--

Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Pleased a simple tale to hear--

Long has paled that sunny sky:
Echoes fade and memories die.
Autumn frosts have slain July.

Still she haunts me, phantomwise,
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes.

Children yet, the tale to hear,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Lovingly shall nestle near.

In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:

Ever drifting down the stream--
Lingering in the golden gleam--
Life, what is it but a dream?