The fairy king &The demon

It was a quiet day, a calm day1

Just like the one before2

But something coming on this day3

Would change all forevermore4

The woods were still and peaceful5

The leaves a brilliant green6

Oberon and Titania reigned7

As Fairy King and Queen8

The fairies danced so happily9

To music light and gay10

While the Lord and Lady both played chess11

On this not-so-special day12

But mischief was a brewing13

On this day, so peaceful seemin’14

As the gates of Hell tipped open15

And released a little demon16

The gates were closed so quickly17

So that nothing else got out18

But this one little monster19

Was now firmly stuck without20

He gave a little chuckle21

And he gave a little sneer22

And far away, the Fairy King 23

Felt danger coming near24

Arising from his chess game25

(He was losing anyway)26

Oberon commanded, ‘Fairies,27

You must hide yourselves away’28

Titania gave a little sigh29

For she felt the danger too30

And she had no idea what it could be31

Though she really wished she knew32

The Fairy King stood listening33

And at last he moved away34

In the direction which he sensed the threat35

Was lurking on that day36

He moved with silent speediness37

Soon, a strange sound he was hearing38

Perhaps an evil cackle?39

Then he burst into the clearing40

The creature that was standing there41

Was awful harmless-seemin’42

In fact, a guy would hardly guess43

He was looking at a demon44

But Oberon was smarter 45

And saw through the disguise46

For he saw the lurking madness47

Flashing in those bright red  eyes48

‘Foul creature’, he cried loudly49

And the demon paid attention50

‘Why dost thou stray into this wood?’51

No answer. The air quivered with tension.52

‘Be gone!’ Oberon commanded53

And he made to touch the thing54

But the demon flew into the air55

Though it had no sign of wing56

And it vanished, leaving Oberon57

Feeling quite a bit perplexed58

At the time he did not realize59

The troubles coming next60

For that demon wasn’t finished61

Though Oberon thought him gone for good62

Instead, he wreaked his havoc63

On the tranquil  little wood64

He scared the little fairies65

Popping out of nooks and crannies66

And he made the full-grown mortal men67

Howl for their nannies68

This demon was malicious69

And he played each nasty trick70

Be it loosening a saddle strap71

Or causing clocks to loose their tick72

For four long days poor Oberon73

Tried to catch the creep74

But the demon was too quick75

And only moved when all were asleep76

But being a mighty Fairy Lord77

Oberon did not need78

Many hours of peaceful rest79

So he crafted a plan with speed80

One dark and dreary night81

When all were sleeping peacefully82

The demon skittered through the woods83

With plans of knavery84

He did not realize that he85

Was far from being alone86

For Oberon was trailing him87

With a plan of his own88

And when the demon got quite lost89

In unfamiliar terrain90

The Fairy Lord revealed himself91

And prepared to fight the swain92

The demon wasn’t ready 93

For the lightning aimed his way94

And he stumbled, stumbled, stumbled95

Till he tumbled all away96

But springing to his feet he fired97

A fiery bolt his own98

Intending it to fry the rear99

That sat on the Fairy King’s throne100

But Oberon was quick, too quick101

(For which we’re very grateful)102

And that bolt went right past him103

Making the demon all more hateful104

Back and forth the lightning flew105

Scorching trees and bushes106

Each of the silly males was aiming107

For the others’ tushes108

But finally Oberon got tired109

Of the mindless spat110

And with an extra-special bolt111

He knocked the demon flat112

He was about to kill the thing113

And be rid of it forever114

But something happened then115

Something so different and so clever116

The demon spoke a something117

Not a self-made epitaph118

Not a plea for his own life119

But something that made Oberon laugh120

A something that was so witty121

And so cleverly thought up122

That the King of Shadows laughed so hard123

He almost split a gut124

Oberon does not remember125

Exactly what it was126

What made him laugh so hard that day127

It was forgotten in the buzz128

But he stood there, laughing, laughing129

With a demon at his feet130

And the demon laughed as well131

Saying that he felt complete132

The little demon explained that he133

Was lonely and confused134

And merely caused that trouble135

To be selfishly amused136

But now he’d found a something137

That would quell that appetite138

For he liked it far more better139

When someone else laughed, like that night140

He begged to be released and spared141

And promised in return142

To only play the harmless jokes143

And if he couldn’t, he would learn144

So Oberon decided not 145

To kill the beast outright146

Instead stripping most of his powers147

Turning demon into sprite148

And that sprite swore his allegiance149

To the mighty Fairy King150

To be his clever henchman151

And always keep him laughing152

That was many years ago153

The allegiance still holds strong154

The sprite is still a servant 155

To the great Lord Oberon156

But it’s a changed relationship157

Still solid as a tower158

But now, more evenly balanced159

With neither having all the power160

The sprite still wreaks his havoc161

While the mortals are in bed162

But instead of for maliciousness163

More for mischief now instead164

He keeps the King of Shadows laughing165

The two of them keep company166

Almost always where there’s one of them167

The other near will be168

The sprite has earned many a name169

Through his fortune and his luck170

They call him Robin Good fellow171

But his most common name is Puck172

~ The End173