The Diagonal Messenger

It was late one night
During the pouring rain
I tossed and turned
And tried to sleep--in vain!

Seeing the game was lost
I gave in with a sigh,
I rolled on my side
And opened my eyes.

To my great surprise
In the vent on the wall
A creature was sitting,
A creature quite small.

“Hello,” said he, with
Much mirth and much glee.
“Who are you?” I asked,
And he smiled at me.

“Why my name is simple!
My name is not long!”
Said he with a bow,
“My name is Oblong!”

He hopped out of my vent
And onto the floor,
Covered in dust
An inch thick or more!

He brushed himself off
From yellow coat to red hat.
He wore no shoes and
Had feet like cat’s.

His skin was brown-gray
And extremely wrinkled.
His eyes were large, and
In the darkness they twinkled.

“Why are you here?”
I could not help but ask.
He answered, “I come
With the most important of tasks!”

“It is time for you, girl,
To pick, to decide!
Will you live in this world?” said he,
“Or in the other reside?”

“The other?” I whispered,
For it couldn’t be true,
That there existed out there
Not one world—but two!

“You are quite special,”
He stated, with mysterious mien.
“Because you are indeed
Of the rare ‘In Betweens.’”

“You live neither in this land,
Nor live without,
And so you must choose
One world to rule out!”

“But why?” I exclaimed.
“And what worlds do you speak of?
And how can I trust you,
With no trust between us?”

“An intelligent girl!”
He cried with a grin,
Then he began laughing
And making a great din.

“Stop laughing at me!”
I bit, quite offended.
“Forgive,” replied he,
“No offense was intended.”

Then he straightened his cap
And he smoothed out his coat
(He put me in mind of
A very regal goat).

“You speak of trust!” said he.
“And of my home nation,
Well my home my dear,
Is in your imagination!”

“You brought me here,
With your thinks and your thoughts,
Although my coat, I’m afraid,
Your brother’s mind wrought.”

“But this world has no use
For an imp such as me,
So instead of popping up here,
I was sent to the areality.”

Here he paused, and
Tugged at his beard,
So I said with a smile,
“Your story’s quite weird!”

“But I suppose it makes sense,
If all things have opposites,
That the real we’re in
Has an unreal to contrast it.”

“Indeed!” spoke he,
“You catch on fast!
So now I can answer
Your first question, last!”

“As light and shadow
Don’t keep the same space,
So you too, dear girl,
Must live in only one place!”

“As an In Between now,
You flit to and fro,
And no one can tell
On which side you should go!”

“So I have been sent
On this arduous trip
To ask you, dear, please!
One side to pick!”

“Running like that,
You are making us dizzy!
You fly like bee who
Is much, much too busy!”

“I’m sorry,” I said,
“For I never knew,
That there was a line
That I was crossing through!”

“But I have Mr. Oblong,
One last question:
If these worlds are opposites,
Shouldn’t there be an attraction?”

“What do you mean?”
He asked with suspicion.
I answered quite simply,
“That could be my mission!”

“To keep the two sides
From splitting apart,”
He whispered in thought.
Then he gave a shout, which gave me a start!

“What a ridiculous idea!
It would never work!
In Betweeners are Never,
I say, never, a perk!”

“It was only a thought,”
I said with a frown,
“You don’t have to go
And make me feel down.”

I gazed at the floor,
My mood very glum,
Until the quiet make me glance up,
At Oblong twiddling his thumbs.

“On second thought,”
He said with great reticence,
“Your impossible idea
Just might have some essence.”

“I knew it could be done!”
I smiled as the sky became brighter.
“Yes, well,” he grumbled,
“Now I know you're a writer!”

And with far too much grousing
And his hat oddly bent,
I watch as small Oblong
Climbed back into my vent.

“Farewell!” he shouted,
Then he paused to sneeze.
“I don’t care!” he continued,
“You may do as you please!”

He disappeared with a pop,
And I was left all alone.
But as the sun came up, into
Dreams I’d already flown.

That is my story,
Whether it’s false or it’s true,
The decision rests solely
And wholly on you.