You Are Old Father William

By Lewis Carroll

Narrative Poem
"You are old, father William," the young man said, "And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head, Do you think, at your age, it is right? "In my youth," father William replied to his son, "I feared it might injure the brain; But, now that I'm perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again." "You are old," said the youth, "as I mentioned before, And you have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door, Pray what is the reason for that?" "In my youth," said the sage, as he shook his grey locks, "I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment, one shilling a box, Allow me to sell you a couple?" "You are old," said the youth, "and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak, Pray, how did you mange to do it?" "In my youth," said his fater, "I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength, which it gave to my jaw, Has lasted the rest of my life." "You are old," said the youth, "one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as every; Yet you balanced an eel on the tend of your nose, What made you so awfully clever?" "I have answered three questions, and that is enough," Said his father. "Don't give yourself airs! Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff? Be off, or I'll kick you down stairs.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
Lewis Carroll’s You are old, father William is a playful, absurdist exchange between a youth and his elderly father, structured as a series of escalating questions and nonsensical justifications. The poem’s loose iambic meter and colloquial rhythms mimic a lively, conversational tone, while the lack of strict rhyme underscores the absurdity of the father’s responses. Each stanza escalates in absurdity, with the father’s answers growing increasingly preposterous from standing on his head to balancing an eel on his nose. The volta occurs when the father abruptly cuts off the youth, shifting from absurd reasoning to a blunt, aggressive dismissal. The poem’s humor lies in the juxtaposition of the youth’s earnest inquiries and the father’s nonsensical, self-serving replies, culminating in a sudden, unprovoked outburst. The final line’s abruptness and threat of violence underscore the poem’s subversion of conventional wisdom and decorum.

Exploring Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.

Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Structured Plot: Narrative poems typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end, following a plot that might involve conflict, climax, and resolution, much like a short story or novel.
  • Character Development: Characters in narrative poems are often well-developed, with distinct voices and personalities that drive the story forward.
  • Descriptive Language: The language used in narrative poetry is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the scenes and events, while also conveying the emotions and atmosphere of the story.

From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.