1845

MY FAIRY

by Lewis Carroll

MY FAIRY -

I HAVE a fairy by my side

Which says I must not sleep,

When once in pain I loudly cried

It said "You must not weep". -

If, full of mirth, I smile and grin,

It says "You must not laugh";

When once I wished to drink some gin

It said "You must not quaff". -

When once a meal I wished to taste

It said "You must not bite";

When to the wars I went in haste

It said "You must not fight". -

"What may I do?" at length I cried,

Tired of the painful task.

The fairy quietly replied,

And said "You must not ask". -

Moral: "You mustn't."

(1845) - -