The Tale of the Goblin

More ugly was ogre, more than he was tall, Eight feet at the shoulder, if ugly at all, More stupid was goblin, no doubt he was brave, Some say even foolish, a very brash knave.

One eve in his hole, the ogre cooked gruel, Along came the goblin, meandering fool, Smelling food in the cave, dank and deep, Drooling he entered, hoping ogre asleep.

'Garumph, Fe Fi Fo!' ogre barked with breath fowl, He glared at the goblin, and he breathed a low growl, Goblin blinked, then he smiled, and gave a small bow, 'Good Eve to ya sir, could ya spare some food now?'

The brute's eyes did bulge, in his neck pulsed a vein, His face turned beet red, and he grimaced in pain, 'Bree nurk Gur da Fu!' ogre wailed, then he spat, Goblin just shrugged, then near the fire he sat.

'I have here some ale, and I willin ta share, For a taste o ya grub...a portion that's fair', Goblin reached in a pack that was tattered and torn, And pulled out a flask, polished and worn.

Ogre frowned for a bit, and he glared a good while, Considering goblin's boldness and guile, The mush was too bland, and he liked a good drink, Perhaps he could spare some food he did think.

Ogre dished out a bowl, a good healthy size, Put it down near the fire to keep away flies, Then he took out a mug made of some kind of hide, The size of a pitcher, and placed it beside.

Ogre rubbed at the grime on his cheeks and his chin, And attempted to smile, but managed only a grin, Goblin pulled out the cork of his flask with a tug, And emptied it all into ogre's mug.

Ogre drank up the ale as his visitor ate, The fire grew dim, and the hour grew late, And when the moons set and the shadows grew deep, The pair was so tired, they both fell asleep.

It was just before morn when goblin awoke, To a scene that he swore was some kind of cruel joke, For ogre caressed him like a sweet little bunny, And held him so tight it seemed a bit funny.

Goblin had no escape, ogre's arms were like trees, And ogre's huge belly pinned him fast by the knees, though unable to move in the teddy bear hug, Goblin felt kind of good, nice and cozy and snug.

Goblin wanted to stay, but knew he should go, Still how to get loose, he just didn't know, It was all he could do just to manage a wiggle, But with his free hand, perhaps he could tickle.

So goblin began to poke, thump, and nudge, But sleepy, drunk ogre, he just wouldn't budge, And just when goblin was ready to quit, Ogre lifted his elbow, and scratched his armpit.

So quicker than you can say 'manticore', Little goblin rolled free and leaped to the floor, He picked up his pack and made ready to go, Without waking the giant, he left on tiptoe.

And as he was leaving, goblin felt a bit sad, Once you got past the smell, ogre wasn't too bad, This important lesson goblin learned in the end, The 'unlikeliest' ogre can make a good friend.