The Elf Singing

An Elf sat on a twig,

He was not very big,

He sang a little song,

He did not think it wrong;

But he was on a Wizard's ground,

Who hated all sweet sound.

Elf, Elf,

Take care of yourself.

He's coming behind you,

To seize you and bind you

And stifle you song.

The Wizard! The Wizard!

He changes his shape

In crawling along--

An ugly old ape,

A poisonous lizard,

A spotted spider,

A wormy glider

The Wizard! The Wizard!

He's up on the bough

He'll bite through your gizzard,

He's close to you now!

The Elf went on with his song,

It grew more clear and strong;

It lifted him into air,

He floated singing away,

With rainbows in his hair;

While the Wizard-Worm from his creep

Mad a sudden leap,

Fell down into a hole,

And, are his magic word he could say,

Was eaten up by a Mole.