The Jumblies (Poem by Edward Lear)

The Jumblies

By Edward Lear

(1)

They went to sea in a Sieve, they did,

    In a Sieve they went to sea:

In spite of all their friends could say,

On a winter’s morn, on a stormy day,

    In a Sieve they went to sea!

And when the Sieve turned round and round,

And every one cried, “You’ll all be drowned!”

They cried aloud, “Our Sieve ain’t big,

But we don’t care a button, we don’t care a fig!

    In a Sieve we’ll go to sea!”

        Far and few, far and few,

            Are the lands where the Jumblies live;

        Their heads are green, and their hands are blue,

            And they went to sea in a Sieve.

 

(2)

They sailed away in a Sieve, they did,

    In a Sieve they sailed so fast,

With only a beautiful pea-green veil

Tied with a riband, by way of a sail,

    To a small tobacco-pipe mast;

And every one said, who saw them go,

“O won’t they be soon upset, you know!

For the sky is dark, and the voyage is long,

And happen what may, it’s extremely wrong

    In a Sieve to sail so fast!”

        Far and few, far and few,

            Are the lands where the Jumblies live;

        Their heads are green, and their hands are blue,

            And they went to sea in a Sieve.

 

(3)

The water it soon came in, it did,

    The water it soon came in;

So to keep them dry, they wrapped their feet

In a pinky paper all folded neat,

    And they fastened it down with a pin.

And they passed the night in a crockery-jar,

And each of them said, “How wise we are!

Though the sky be dark, and the voyage be long,

Yet we never can think we were rash or wrong,

    While round in our Sieve we spin!”

        Far and few, far and few,

            Are the lands where the Jumblies live;

        Their heads are green, and their hands are blue,

            And they went to sea in a Sieve.

 

(4)

And all night long they sailed away;

    And when the sun went down,

They whistled and warbled a moony song

To the echoing sound of a coppery gong,

    In the shade of the mountains brown.

“O Timballo! How happy we are,

When we live in a Sieve and a crockery-jar,

And all night long in the moonlight pale,

We sail away with a pea-green sail,

    In the shade of the mountains brown!”

        Far and few, far and few,

            Are the lands where the Jumblies live;

        Their heads are green, and their hands are blue,

            And they went to sea in a Sieve.

(5)

They sailed to the Western sea, they did,

    To a land all covered with trees,

And they bought an Owl, and a useful Cart,

And a pound of Rice, and a Cranberry Tart,

    And a hive of silvery Bees.

And they bought a Pig, and some green Jack-daws,

And a lovely Monkey with lollipop paws,

And forty bottles of Ring-Bo-Ree,

    And no end of Stilton Cheese.

        Far and few, far and few,

            Are the lands where the Jumblies live;

        Their heads are green, and their hands are blue,

            And they went to sea in a Sieve.

(6)

And in twenty years they all came back,

    In twenty years or more,

And every one said, “How tall they’ve grown!

For they’ve been to the Lakes, and the Torrible Zone,

    And the hills of the Chankly Bore;”

And they drank their health, and gave them a feast

Of dumplings made of beautiful yeast;

And every one said, “If we only live,

We too will go to sea in a Sieve —

    To the hills of the Chankly Bore!”

        Far and few, far and few,

            Are the lands where the Jumblies live;

        Their heads are green, and their hands are blue,

            And they went to sea in a Sieve.

Poem Analysis:

Edward Lear's "The Jumblies" takes readers on a fantastical journey with a group of peculiar adventurers who defy logic and embark on a nautical escapade in a Sieve. This whimsical narrative, filled with vibrant imagery and playful language, invites readers to explore themes of daring, resilience, and the joy of unconventional pursuits.

1. The Sieve as a Symbol: The Sieve becomes a symbol of the Jumblies' carefree and whimsical spirit. Despite its impracticality as a vessel, the Sieve represents the audacity to pursue one's dreams, even when faced with skepticism or challenges. Lear's playful language and rhythmic verses create a sense of lightness, echoing the Jumblies' carefree attitude.
2. Journeying Against the Odds: The Jumblies set sail in their unconventional Sieve, defying warnings and expectations. Lear masterfully captures the humorous contrast between the seemingly ill-suited vessel and the Jumblies' determination to navigate stormy seas. The poem subtly encourages readers to embrace the unexpected, reveling in the joy of unconventional pursuits.
3. Colorful Imagery and Whimsical Details: Lear's use of vivid imagery adds charm to the narrative. The Jumblies' heads are described as green, and their hands as blue, contributing to the fantastical nature of the characters. The incorporation of a pea-green sail, a pinky paper to keep their feet dry, and a crockery-jar as their nighttime refuge adds whimsy to the poem, enhancing its fantastical appeal.
4. Musical Elements and Rhythmic Language: The poem's repetitive and rhythmic structure, coupled with the refrain "Far and few," creates a musical quality. This rhythmic cadence mirrors the gentle rocking of a boat, immersing readers in the rhythmic flow of the Jumblies' journey. Lear's skillful use of language and sound contributes to the overall sense of lightheartedness.
5. A Journey Beyond the Sea: The Jumblies venture to a land covered with trees, purchasing an eclectic assortment of items, including an Owl, a Cart, Rice, a Cranberry Tart, a hive of Bees, a Pig, Jack-daws, a Monkey, Ring-Bo-Ree, and Stilton Cheese. Lear's inclusion of these whimsical details adds depth to the narrative, creating a vivid and eccentric world that mirrors the Jumblies' playful spirit.
6. A Return to Celebration: The poem concludes with the Jumblies' return after twenty years, having explored distant lands. The joyous reunion with the Jumblies prompts the promise of others to embark on similar adventures. The hills of the Chankly Bore become a symbol of the fantastic and the unknown, inviting readers to join the Jumblies in their imaginative journeys.

"The Jumblies" by Edward Lear stands as a delightful ode to the spirit of adventure, resilience, and the joy of pursuing unconventional dreams. Lear's whimsical language, colorful imagery, and rhythmic verses create a lighthearted atmosphere that resonates with readers of all ages, encouraging them to embrace the fantastical and find joy in the unexpected.