Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Humpty Dumpty -- The TRUE Story

Fans of Alice, Wonderland and Nursery lore of all kinds, check out this clever little story that resembles one recently featured on Yahoo! News front page ... the question: why is Humpty Dumpty an Egg, when the poem never specifies?

The poem we all know and love says of Humpty:
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
and all the King's Horses and all the King's Men
couldn't put Humpty Together again.

An original published in 1803:
Humpty Dumpty sate [sic] on a wall,
Humpti Dumpti [sic] had a great fall;
Threescore men and threescore more,
Cannot place Humpty dumpty as he was before

Neither emphasizes Humpty as an Egg (and the article and linked Humpty bio explain), making Tenniel's illustrations of Humpty for Alice in Wonderland one of the first depictions of the implied meaning behind Humpty Dumpty.

In honor of Humpty Dumpty's unique story, our own Reggie the Crow has composed an original poem in its honor ...


"Indeed I have -- not only that, but in a unique early English style for all you Chaucer fans. Here below is my own unique take on Humpty Dumpty a la Canterbury Tales."
Chaucer-style?

"Of course. Shakespeare, eat your heart out."
(clears throat) ...
Humpte Dumpte sate on a walle
Humpte Dumpte hade a greate falle
and All the kings Horsese and All the kings Mene
Coule not make Humtpe a whol Egge againe.


"So what do you think? Not bad for a bird versed on Wodehouse, aye?"

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