Griselda's Revenge

We had a garden gnome named Griselda
the bane of our small bungalow
she was nasty and mean, at times quite obscene
the worst that you ever could know!

Her garden mate, Gregor, had feared her
but one day he mustered the nerve
with all of our backing, to send the girl packing
with cleverness, cunning and verve.

But she was vindictive by nature
and wouldn't let 'bygones' be gone
if it took all her years, she would stir up our fears
her plans were all plotted and drawn.

She waited 'til we'd quite forgotten
her villainous, vile, evil reign
then with fierce aggression, she took bold possession
of our lovely, dear, docile domain.

She poisoned the pansies and lilies
and shredded the sweet climbing vines
she disturbed my repose, when she broke the windows
with a shriek that sent chills up my spine.

She tore down my front porch swing
shattering the flowerpots and planters
mad wreckage in her wake, as she sought all to break
taking off to the back at a canter.

I squared off to defend my back garden
grabbed whatever I thought I might wield
at first, on my guard, as I entered the yard
I found she was hardly concealed...

And 'though she seemed alone in the garden
I soon found that I was mistaken
for, succinctly put- I was bound head to foot
and carried off, unhurt but shaken.

Griselda had built quite an army
it seems, in her time far away
for gremlins and trolls, from the caves to the knolls
were under her terrible sway.

They answered her orders directly
and smugly, she smiled and she smirked
a gleam in her eyes as she planned my demise
as her minions continued to work...

Heaving in stones from the quarry
they were piling them higher and higher
and my strength gave away as to my dismay
I saw they were building a pyre!

But Gregor'd escaped all their notice
as he'd hid 'neath the back garden shed
and despite his wee size, he would prove her demise
at his bellow, her company fled.

He used a cheap trick, an enchantment
that he bought from an old witch named Rue
and it seemed there were thousands (as far as the eye scanned)
of Gregors that came into view!

Her face was distorted with terror
and she promised that she'd stay away
and off like a blip- she jumped on a ship
and sailed to somewhere near Bombay.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

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Faulkner Avatar
September 20, 2019 at 1:41 PM
Maybe you should ask Caren if she could illustrate a picture book of this for you! (unless you can draw/paint - I know I can't) I would be interested to see an army of gremlins and trolls-
Mcferran Avatar
September 20, 2019 at 10:00 PM
I've actually been thinking of making an illustrated book of the first Griselda poem... so I guess I could do this one, too! Although, I would dearly LOVE to see Caren's version! Especially the trippy psychedelic stuff I had going on in the first poem... it would be so cool in her neon/ black-light painting cartoon style! ;D
Lamoureux Avatar
September 15, 2019 at 11:57 AM
Oh my! This is quite the tale. Great storytelling.
Mcferran Avatar
September 20, 2019 at 9:56 PM
Thank you so much! ;) (...and sorry it took me so long to reply!)
Krutsinger Avatar
September 11, 2019 at 3:04 PM
When I reached this part I knew it was going to my fav list. " She poisoned the pansies and lilies and shredded the sweet climbing vines she disturbed my repose, when she broke the windows with a shriek that sent chills up my spine".
Mcferran Avatar
September 11, 2019 at 7:55 PM
I'd actually meant for Griselda to have this "garden rampage" the first time, but as I sat down to write it she found my spare house key... and things got out of my control! Later, I hesitated to even post this one, as it didn't seem as fun without the psychedelic mushrooms! Hahahaa! ;D
Kiser Avatar
September 10, 2019 at 1:31 PM
Whew, poor Bombay! Cute story, enjoyed.
Mcferran Avatar
September 10, 2019 at 4:56 PM
Aawww, thank you my friend! ;)
Mchattie Avatar
September 7, 2019 at 5:00 PM
Wonderful story. Well penned my friend. Just my cup of tea. Have a great day,
Mcferran Avatar
September 7, 2019 at 6:49 PM
Thank you so much!! ;) This actually was the sequel to another poem of mine entitled "Griselda", (which you might also enjoy). Hope you have a great day, too!
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