Me? I am but a humble troll.

A homeless troll, life has taken its toll

So now I have only a bridge to stroll

And on each side, lie beautiful knolls

 

Yet the goats, those rich, fat, pompous goats

Will not let me leave the murky moat

That lies underneath the narrow bridge

And every day, they pass and gloat

 

And so, I sit and moan and starve

Dreaming of a fat turkey to carve,

Or even, the thought comes to me now,

A goat

 

But before it happens to get that far,

Before I make a goat snack bar,

I will try a peaceful way

I will talk to the passing goats today.

 

On the bridge, I am now sitting

And I must admit, I am getting

Quite annoyed, so now I ponder

Why is it that they call me the monster?

 

Each goat that passes barely looks

Barely talks, just walks across the brook

Here come three more now,

Maybe I need a goat cookbook

 

The first one walked up, and I clearly could see,

A gold ring on each finger, and I began to plea

Spare change? I inquired, or maybe some bread?

In response, however, he only turned up his head

 

Do you think, he snarled,

I am made of money?

Perhaps that the economy is flowing with honey?

I implore you to bother the one behind me, sonny

 

With that, he promptly hopped away,

And not long after, another came from the same way

He was very slow, for on his back he was sporting

A gold jacket, long and heavy and flowing

 

He shuffled over and saw me and sneered

I began to speak, and interrupting, he jeered

Do not bother me. Don’t even speak!

I am nauseated by just the sight of your teeth

 

My assets are frozen, my liabilities gone!

My butlers have flown, they left at dawn!

I have nothing to give, ‘cept these wise words

The one behind me can give you anything, anything you deserve

 

With that, he left, with a flourish from his cape

His glowing, gold, beautiful coat beginning to drape

It was becoming late, and the sun began to lower

This goat would be the last, then I would devour

 

From the east, in front of pastel reds, a long-bearded goat poked up his head

He shimmered and shone, and I saw with surprise

That every inch of him was covered with jewels

That blinded my widening eyes

 

And lo and behold, what was this?

He was standing on another goat who walked, and hissed

For the billy on top was extremely fat

And refused to move, only stood on his back

 

With a huff in his voice and a frown on his face,

he looked at me in all my disgrace

Who are you, he demanded,

To block my path?

 

To keep me from more tasteful grass?

I began to get angry, I began to get cross

I began to doubt anyone would mourn the loss

And I reached forward when the goat paused

 

I plucked him off and he shrieked in fear

Each jewel fell down closer near

To the poor, cowering goat on the ground

And into my gullet the rich goat went down

 

The one remaining pleaded with me

Oh, please sir, how have I harmed ye?

I turned and gave him a smile

Nothing yet, and lucky for you, I’m not vile

 

Then we split the jewels, and we parted ways

And I still know him to this day

He is never greedy, and seldom vain

And I am proud to say that I’m the same

 

From that day forward all the goats knew

That what you give, always comes back to you