J is for Jabberwocky, the poem (and accompanying illustration) from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872, by Lewis Carroll. I love this because it clearly demonstrates how an author can use nonsensical and made up words to tell a story yet still be understood.

Behold:

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought —
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’
He chortled in his joy.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Just goes to show how wondrous words are and how constantly changing our language is, like beaches, rivers and mountains…Callooh, Callay!

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“Oh, and only five (5) days until my debut novel, The P.U.R.E. releases!” she castlefied, the frills of her cumbower awash with jumjum.