Answer to the White Queen's Riddle

The White Queen’s Riddle- Lewis Carroll

   "First, the fish must be caught."

That is easy: a baby, I think, could have caught it.

    "Next, the fish must be bought."

That is easy: a penny, I think, would have bought it.

    "Now cook me the fish!"

That is easy, and will not take more than a minute.

    "Let it lie in a dish!"

That is easy, because it is already in it.

    "Bring it here, let me sup!"

It is easy to set such a dish on the table.

    "Take the dish-cover up!"

Ah, that is so hard that I fear I'm unable!

    For it holds it like glue---

Holds the lid to the dish, while it lies in the middle:

    Which is easiest to do,

Un-dish-cover the fish, or dishcover the riddle?

Answer: It is easier to “discover” that the riddle is about an oyster.

One of two “ironic, unexpected twists” in “The Walrus and the Carpenter” by Carroll:

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

It was the middle of the night and the sun was beating down on the ocean as hard as it could.