Can Lewis Carroll’s Verses Really Help You Score Your Valentine?

Sure, zodiac signs can help you understand your lover – but can Lewis Carroll’s nutty verses actually help too?

How well do you know your lover? A copy of Alice in Wonderland might help! (Photo Courtesy: YouTube screenshot)

Lewis Carroll’s unique mix of creativity, fantasy, word play, satire, nonsense and dry wit have gained him and his characters an iconic status.

And in case you didn’t know, he’s the man behind these oft-quoted sayings:

“Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it”... “She generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very seldom followed it)”... and “Curiouser and curiouser!”

A favourite Lewis Carroll influence? Linda Goodman’s sun signs!

For many, the Carroll quotations on zodiac signs have become mantras to understand the object of their desire! This Valentine’s Day, why not decode them for yourself?

Aries

Aries is the baby of the zodiac signs. (Photo: iStock)

They would not remember the simple rules

their friends had taught them: such as

that a red hot poker will burn you

if you hold it too long;

and that, if you cut your finger

very deeply with a knife,

it usually bleeds.

Aries is the baby of the zodiac signs. He fears no one and nothing – till he gets burned. Then he tries again when he has forgotten the hurt.

Taurus

Push a Taurus and they can be mighty bull headed! (Photo: iStock)

It’ll be no use putting their heads down

and saying, ‘Come up again, dear!’...

If I like being that person I’ll come up:

If not, I’ll stay down here...

Only you’d better not come very close...

I generally hit everything I can see –

when I get really excited.

Taurus are quiet, practical souls, slow to action, deliberate and careful.They look calm – but push a Taurus and they can be mighty bull headed!

Gemini

There are two distinct sides to a Gemini’s personality. (Photo: iStock)

I could tell you my adventures –

beginning from this morning –

At least I knew who I was

when I got up this morning,

but I think I must have changed

several times since then.

There are two distinct sides to a Gemini’s personality. They know where they stand in love – at least for the moment. And if it’s a tricky situation, they can talk themselves out of it with ease!

Cancer

Cancerian moods are synchronised to the moon. (Photo: iStock)

I can’t explain myself, I’m afraid.

because I’m not myself, you see.

Oh, my fur and whiskers!

It is this, it is this that oppresses my soul.

Like the tides of an ocean, Cancerian moods are synchronised to the moon. They can be wet dishrags, and also as funny as an orangutan! Is your Cancerian love a gentle moon maiden or a wild loony bird? You’ll never know!

Leo

Leo – like the lion – rules you and everybody else. (Photo: iStock)

It looked good-natured, she thought;

still, it had very long claws

and a great many teeth,

so she felt it ought to be

treated with respect.

Leo – like the lion – rules you and everybody else. It’s best to humour your Leo love, if you want them purring instead of roaring.

Virgo

Virgos are meticulous and perfectionists – but far from perfect themselves! (Photo: iStock)

“Only mustard isn’t a bird,” Alice remarked.

“Right as usual,” said the Duchess;

“What a clear way you have to putting things!”

Virgos are meticulous and perfectionists – but far from perfect themselves! They have an apparent blindness to their faults, but are also generous and kind, and can do all your worrying for you!

Libra

Librans are represented by the golden scales of justice. (Photo: iStock)

Your face is the same as everybody has –

the two eyes, so....nose in the middle,

mouth under. It’s always the same.

Now, if you had the two eyes

on the same side of the nose, for instance –

or the mouth at the top –

that would be some help.

Librans are represented by the golden scales of justice. Thus they can be calm, sweet and gracious half the time – and cranky, annoying and depressed the other half! But in the moments that balance is achieved? They’re almost heavenly.

Scorpio

Scorpios bravely face anything from physical pain and poverty to ridicule and failure with proud contempt. (Photo: iStock)

And her large eyes immediately met those

of a large, blue caterpillar

that was sitting on the top with its arms folded, quietly

smoking a long hookah...

The caterpillar and Alice

looked at each other in silence.

Scorpios bravely face anything from physical pain and poverty to ridicule and failure with proud contempt. They can be like the nocturnal scorpion who will sting others or they can imitate the eagle who rises above earthly limitations and uses his strength wisely.

Sagittarius

They’re happy miniature clowns who laugh with tears in their eyes when they’re rejected. (Photo: iStock)

There’s such a nice little dog near our house...

A little bright-eyed terrier, you know,

with oh! such long curly brown hair!

And it’ll fetch things when you throw them.

and it’ll sit up and beg for its dinner

and all sorts of things –

I can’t remember half of them.

Sagittarians from age 1 week to 100 years never really grow up. They’re happy miniature clowns who laugh with tears in their eyes when they’re rejected. Honest, idealistic and curious, they’re the most lovable of the three Fire signs.

Capricorn

Capricorns court success; they respect authority and honour tradition. (Photo: iStock)

So she got up and walked about –

rather stiffly just at first,

as she was afraid that the crown might come off:

but she comforted herself with the thought

that there was nobody to see her,

“and if I really am a Queen,” she said

as she sat down again,

I shall be able to manage it quite well in time.”

Capricorns court success; they respect authority and honour tradition. They submit. They agree. They adapt. Capricorns allow others to walk in front of them – but against all logic, get there first.

Aquarius

Aquarians are seldom judgmental or prejudiced. (Photo: iStock)

But Alice had got so much into the way

of expecting nothing but out-of-the-way things to happen

that it seemed quite dull and stupid

for life to go on in the common way...

Put cats in the coffee and mice in the tea –

And welcome Queen Alice with thirty times three!

Aquarians are seldom judgmental or prejudiced, and have no desire to hard sell their opinions. Their ideals are – equality, brotherhood, love for all, live and let live, seek the truth and retire to meditate!

Pisces

Rank, power, leadership and wealth hold little attraction for Pisceans. (Photo: iStock)

Hush-a -by lady, in Alice’s lap!

Till the feast’s ready, we’ve time for a nap:

When the feast’s over, we’ll go to the ball –

Red Queen, and White Queen, and Alice, and all!

Then fill up the glasses with treacle and ink,

Or anything else that is pleasant to drink.

Rank, power, leadership and wealth hold little attraction for Pisceans. They can be indifferent to insults or other people’s strong opinions. They love music and arts, and are old souls.

(Preeti Singh is a freelance journalist based in New York and her features appear in a number of national and international publications.)