Elfin Gold

NEW PROMPT: Write a short story or poem about spinning straw into gold and the consequences of doing so.

ELFIN GOLD

In days of yore our elfin friends
Roamed our planet by the dozens
It isn’t common knowledge,
But they really are our cousins.

Since I was raised and lived with them,
It’s really no surprise,
The secret of spinning straw to gold
Loomed large before my eyes.

I passed the secret to some friends
And told them what I knew
Both elves and humans gasped in awe
And no one said Oh, poo.

An elfin friend then said to me
“Shebobbin Gelleton arbidding.”
Translated into human talk
That means ‘Holy Cow, you’re kidding’.

We set up shop and started work.
And soon to our delight
The straw flew from our spinning wheels
In golden strands so bright.

We spun and spun and never stopped
Our greed so overpowering –
We danced and sang, we laughed and cried
While piles of gold were towering.

The mass of golden thread grew high,
We never saw it coming
Until the towers of glistening chain
Fell on us – it was stunning.

As we lay trapped by the heavy load,
Our doom was so forbidding,
Then from beneath the crush of gold,
The moan, “Shebobbin Gelleton arbidding.”

Written 14 January 2010
Line Count: 32