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."