Will there be a Unicorn? and Other Tales

The Greedy Goblin

A clever young witch in a cape with a hood
Is hurrying home to her hut near the wood.
The sky's getting dark and the wind blows and blows.
The witch says, 'A raindrop just fell on my nose!

Oh no! I don't want to get caught in a storm.
I want to get home where it's dry and it's warm.'
She's been to the market to buy what she needs:
Some nuts for the bird and some sunflower seeds.

Some oats for the horse and some cream for the cat,
And a box of mixed flies for the upside down bat.
She's taking it home in a big heavy sack
When all of a sudden she hears a loud CRACK!

And out of thin air on the road up ahead
A goblin appears with a green scaly head
And big orange eyes and a long pointed nose,
And claws on his fingers and claws on his toes.

And sharp yellow teeth and two bat ears that twitch.
He raises a finger and points at the witch.
'What's in that sack?' Goblin snarls. 'Let me see!'
He grabs Witch's sack and says, 'Give it to me!'

The witch holds on tightly. She's not letting go.
'Just things that I bought in the market, you know.
Some seeds for the bird and some cream for the cat,
Some oats for the horse and some flies for the bat.

There's nothing to interest a goblin like you.'
'Give me the sack or I'll break you in two!'
Shouts the goblin, 'I'll hurt you. I'll scratch and I'll bite.
I'm strong and I'm mean and I know how to fight!'

He bares his sharp teeth and he furrows his brow.
He growls and he hisses, 'Let go of it now!'
But Witch isn't frightened. She has an idea.
'Let go!' says the goblin and twitches his ear.

He digs in his claws and he's starting to pull.
'But, Sir, if you take this, your hands will be full.
And how will you carry the troll's sack of gold?
I'm sure that two sacks will be too much to hold.'

Says the witch to the goblin who widens his eyes.
'What did you say, Witch?' he asks with surprise.
'The troll's sack of gold, did you say?' 'Yes, that's right!
He's just down the road over there, out of sight.'

Says the witch, 'If you go round the corner, you'll see
A big hairy troll, fast asleep by a tree.'
Then suddenly thunderclouds rumble and roar.
'Listen!' says Witch, 'Can you hear the troll snore?'

Rumble roar rumble roar, 'Well? Can you hear?'
'I can!' says the goblin and twitches his ear.
'His snores,' says the witch, 'mean he's deeply asleep.
He won't wake up soon from a sleep that's so deep.

A huge sack of treasure sits next to the troll.
Inside is a cup made of gold and a bowl
Made of silver, a necklace of pearls, diamond rings,
Bracelets and brooches, tiaras and things.

Shiny red rubies and emeralds of green,
Sapphires of blue which are fit for a queen.
I'm sure that that sack weighs an absolute ton.
You can't carry both sacks. It just can't be done.'

'Such treasure!' says Goblin, 'It sounds like a dream!
I don't need your birdseed and bat food and cream.
I'll take the troll's sack and I'll make myself rich!'
Says Goblin and scurries off, leaving the witch.

'The gold and the silver and rubies that shine
And diamonds and sapphires - they soon will be mine!'
The goblin's delighted. He skips and he hops.
He gets to the corner and suddenly stops.

He looks all around and he twitches his ear.
'The troll and the treasure . . . Witch said they were here . . .
There's nothing and no one! No treasure, no troll!
There's no golden cup and there's no silver bowl!

Aargh!' Goblin screams, 'It was all a big trick!
He runs to the tree and he gives it a kick.
He's gnashing his teeth and he's jumping around.
He falls to his knees and starts thumping the ground.

'No diamonds, no sapphires - I won't become rich!
She's tricked me!' he yells. 'I've been tricked by the witch!'
And now Witch is home in her hut by the wood.
She takes off her shoes and her cape with the hood.

She smiles at the green-feathered bird and the cat,
The grey dappled horse and the upside down bat.
'Oh my! What a day this has turned out to be!'
Says the clever young witch. 'Come on, let's have some tea.'

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Thank you for reading 😊 I hope you enjoyed this story 🧡

I thought I was finished with the Clever Young Witch but it seems she has more to say! 🧙‍♀️

(She won't leave me alone 😉)

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