Tin

Granted: I am an inmate of a mental hospital; my keeper is watching me, he never lets me out of his sight; there's a peephole in the door, and my keeper's eye is the shade of brown that can never see through a blue-eyed type like me.
--Günter Grass, "The Tin Drum"

Gigantic

There was once a Giant who was too big to be seen. --Eleanor Farjeon, "The Giant and the Mite" (a tale from "The Little Bookroom")

Before the snow

We started dying before the snow, and like the snow, we continued to fall. --Louise Erdrich, "Tracks"

Good night, Veronica

A hundred thousand good-nights, dearly loved daughter Veronica. --Johannes Junius, the opening of a letter written in 1628 on the eve of Junius' execution by burning

Brillig

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe; all mimsy were the borogoves,and the mome raths outgrabe.
-- Lewis Carrol, "Jabberwocky"

To begin

To begin at the beginning: It is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black...
--Dylan Thomas, "Under Milk Wood"

Slavishly

124 was spiteful.
--Toni Morrison, "Beloved"