Pictures and Conversations

Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, and what is the use of a book, thought Alice, without pictures or conversations?

--Alice's Adventures in Wonderland **
(opening paragraph)

So many out-of-the-way things had happened lately, that Alice had begun to think that very few things indeed were really impossible.
There seemed to be no use in waiting by the little door, so she went back to the table, half hoping she might find another key on it, or at any rate a book of rules for shutting people up like telescopes: this time she found a little bottle on it, (which certainly was not here before, said Alice,) and round the neck of the bottle was a paper label, with the words DRINK ME beautifully printed on it in large letters. **

The Caterpillar and Alice looked at each other for some time in silence: at last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth, and addressed her in a languid, sleepy voice.
Who are you? said the Caterpillar.
This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly,
I — I hardly know, sir, just at present —
at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.
What do you mean by that?
said the Caterpillar sternly. Explain yourself!
I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, sir, said Alice,
because I'm not myself, you see.
I don't see, said the Caterpillar.
I'm afraid I can't put it more clearly, Alice replied very politely,
for I can't understand it myself to begin with;
and being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing. **

You should learn
not to make personal remarks,
Alice said with some severity;
it's very rude.
The Hatter opened his eyes
very wide on hearing this;
but all he said was,
Why is a raven
like a writing-desk?
Come, we shall have
some fun now!
thought Alice.
I'm glad they've begun
asking riddles.
I believe I can guess that,
she added aloud.
Do you mean that
you think you can find out
the answer to it?
said the March Hare.
Exactly so, said Alice.
Then you should say what you mean, the March Hare went on.
I do, Alice hastily replied; at least — at least I mean what I say — that's the same thing, you know.
Not the same thing a bit! said the Hatter. You might just as well say that
"I see what I eat" is the same thing as "I eat what I see"!
You might just as well say, added the March Hare, that "I like what I get"
is the same thing as "I get what I like"!
You might just as well say, added the Dormouse, who seemed to be talking in his sleep, 'that "I breathe when I sleep" is the same thing as "I sleep when I breathe"!
It is the same thing with you, said the Hatter, and here the conversation dropped, and the party sat silent for a minute, while Alice thought over all she could remember about ravens and writing-desks, which wasn't much. **

Jefferson Airplane: White Rabbit....Woodstock, N.Y....8/17/69