The Gnome

The wind and rain beat at my face

And soaked me to the bone,

By myself in the woods

In the woods alone.

Home the sun was out and warm

But here I saw no light,

I was trapped in the swirling of mist

And all the dangers of the night.

I called out for help

But no answer came,

Not the dimmest light

All was in vain.

My face was numb

My feet were sore,

And after this

I knew no more.

In my fingers I felt a tingling

As they gradually heated,

And I opened my eyes to a sight most queer

A creature there was seated.

Face that was human

And nor was it that,

This creature odd it was,

Not thin nor fat.

His nose, if that what it be,

hooked like a beak,

His mouth hid ‘neat his beard

but his eyes were wild, yet meek.

And on his head

He wore a queer hat,

Like a handkerchief

And nothing was stranger then that.

His clothes were indeed outlandish

All colors gold, purple, red, and white,

some shades of brown, and green

But they all seemed to fit just right.

He started to speak

In a language too outlandish,

though for a minute I understood

And then it all vanished.

For the sun shone though my window

Waking me from my drowse,

Telling me to get out of bed

And wipe the sleep from my brows.