Everyone's Sleigh

An old Sami legend.

Best Poem, Long, Free Verse

Written for:

FORUM

12 Poetic Days of Yuletide  (E) 12 different Poetry styles beginning December 21st- January 1st. #2329171 by Witchy Yule Woman

On a chilly solstice day,
The children gathered around
Mama Sami’s bonfire to listen
To the tale of Davvet’s Sleigh.

“Once the Aurora turned green,”
She started and paused and flecked
Powder into the fire making green rivulets
Dance between the flames,

The childen paused and ow’d and ah’d
Waiting her patience words.
“A young Reindeer named Davvet
Had to make a sleigh as a rite
Of passage from boyhood to manhood.

He carved the runners fat and wide
Thinking it would be wise to grab more snow.
Old Ante came by and said, “Davvet
Your runners are too bulky and your
Sleigh will be too slow.”

Davvet took his runners and carved them thin
Thinking they’d be sleek and fast on the snow.
Old Aslak came by and said, “Davvet
Your runners are too skinny to hold any weight
And it will collapse.”

“What did Davvet do?” asked the children.
Mama Sami opened her arms. “His skinny runners
Collapsed under the weight and his fat runners
Were too slow.” Poor Davvet took apart the sleigh
And sat in the snow, frustrated and worried.

Then came humble old Niilas who hobbled out from his
Gnarled hut and found Davvet amid the ruins of
His sleigh. “Young Davvet,” he said. “This is your
Sleigh, not theirs. Come look at mine as it as
Held together through many years and make
Your sleigh your way.”

Davvet picked himself up by the antlers and
Looked at humble Old Niilas’s sleigh. He took a day
And studied and measured. Then he went
To work on a new sleigh.

He took his time and carved just right.
Aslek and Ante came by and offered
More advise, but Davvet ignored them
Carving and wittling away.

When the time came to present his
Sleigh again, it held the load and
Turned the corners just right. The village
Reindeer were very impressed.
Olav, the village elder said he’d
Never seen anything like it.

When Olav asked Davvet if he
Had any help, the young reindeer
Showed him the heap of wood
And carvings in his backyard and said,

“That is everyone’s sleigh,” and with
A smile he turned to his new sleigh,
“And that is mine.”

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