The Dong with a Luminous Nose

Whenawfuldarknessandsilencereign
OverthegreatGromboolianplain,
Throughthelong,longwintrynights;-
Whentheangrybreakersroar
Astheybeatontherockyshore;-
WhenStorm-cloudsbroodonthetoweringheights
OftheHillsoftheChanklyBore:-
Then,throughthevastandgloomydark,
Theremoveswhatseemsafieryspark,
Alonelysparkwithsilveryrays
Piercingthecoal-blacknight,-
AMeteorstrangeandbright:-
Hitherandthitherthevisionstrays,
Asingleluridlight.
Slowlyitwander,-pauses,-creeps,-
Anonitsparkles,-flashesandleaps;
Andeverasonwarditgleaminggoes
AlightontheBong-treestemsitthrows.
Andthosewhowatchatthatmidnighthour
FromHallorTerrace,orloftyTower,
Cry,asthewildlightpassesalong,-
"TheDong!-theDong!
"ThewanderingDongthroughtheforestgoes!
"TheDong!theDong!
"TheDongwithaluminousNose!"
Longyearsago
TheDongwashappyandgay,
TillhefellinlovewithaJumblyGirl
Whocametothoseshoresoneday.
FortheJumbliescameinasieve,theydid,-
LandingateveneartheZemmeryFidd
WheretheOblongOystersgrow,
Andtherocksaresmoothandgray.
Andallthewoodsandthevalleysrang
WiththeChorustheydailyandnightlysang,-
"Farandfew,farandfew,
ArethelandswheretheJumblieslive;
Theirheadsaregreen,andthehandsareblue
Andtheywenttoseainasieve.
Happily,happilypassedthosedays!
WhilethecheerfulJumbliesstaid;
Theydancedincircletsallnightlong,
TotheplaintivepipeofthelivelyDong,
Inmoonlight,shine,orshade.
Fordayandnighthewasalwaysthere
BythesideoftheJumblyGirlsofair,
Withhersky-bluehands,andhersea-greenhair.
Tillthemorningcameofthathatefulday
WhentheJumbliessailedintheirsieveaway,
AndtheDongwasleftonthecruelshore
Gazing-gazingforevermore,-
Everkeepinghiswearyeyeson
Thatpea-greensailonthefarhorizon,-
SingingtheJumblyChorusstill
Ashesatealldayonthegrassyhill,-
"Farandfew,farandfew,
ArethelandswheretheJumblieslive;
Theirheadsaregreen,andthehandsareblue
Andtheywenttoseainasieve.
ButwhenthesunwaslowintheWest,
TheDongaroseandsaid;
-"WhatlittlesenseIoncepossessed
Hasquitegoneoutofmyhead!"-
Andsincethatdayhewandersstill
Bylakeanddorest,marshandhills,
Singing-"Osomewhere,invalleyorplain
"MightIfindmyJumblyGirlagain!
"ForeverI'llseekbylakeandshore
"TillIfindmyJumblyGirloncemore!"
Playingapipewithsilverysqueaks,
SincethenhisJumblyGirlheseeks,
Andbecausebynighthecouldnotsee,
HegatheredthebarkoftheTwangumTree
Onthefloweryplainthatgrows.
AndhewovehimawondrousNose,-
ANoseasstrangeasaNosecouldbe!
Ofvastproportionsandpaintedred,
Andtiedwithcordstothebackofhishead.
-Inahollowroundedspaceitended
WithaluminousLampwithinsuspended,
Allfencedabout
Withabandagestout
Topreventthewindfromblowingitout;-
Andwithholesallroundtosendthelight,
Ingleamingraysonthedismalnight.
Andnoweachnight,andallnightlong,
OverthoseplainsstillroamstheDong;
AndabovethewailoftheChimpandSnipe
Youmayhearthesqueakofhisplaintivepipe
Whileeverheseeks,butseeksinvain
TomeetwithhisJumblyGirlagain;
Lonelyandwild-allnighthegoes,-
TheDongwithaluminousNose!
Andallwhowatchatthemidnighthour,
FromHallorTerrace,orloftyTower,
Cry,astheytracetheMeteorbright,
Movingalongthroughthedrearynight,-
"Thisisthehourwhenforthhegoes,
"TheDongwithaluminousNose!
"Yonder-overtheplainhegoes;
"Hegoes!
"Hegoes;
"TheDongwithaluminousNose!"