Gilrilion ran, and he sang as he ran,
As bright-feathered crow soared high in the sky,
Clear sky, that bird did shine, as crow did fly.
Then called Gilrilion as crow flew by,
“Hey, now; bold crow, don’t you go a’soiling my hat!”
Then did that awful crow swoop down dreadful low,
And upon his hat, did spread its scat.
So then cried Gilrilion this curse of woe:
“Horrid croaking hateful crow, for my garb doth care you lack,
Hear now my curse and know, your fine colours shall now be black!”
Then did those shining feathers fade, and thus was unkind crow’s debt paid,
But Gilrilion laughed, and to dinner he sprang!
Gilrilion dined, and he laughed as he dined,
As sharp-toothèd toad hopped out from the pool,
Cool pool, gleaming blue, glimmering jewel.
Then called Gilrilion as toad did drool,
“Hey, now; cold toad, don’t you go a’thieving my bread!”
Then did that greedy toad spring up from the road,
And it snatched his bread, and swift it fed!
So then did Gilrilion this curse forebode:
“Greedy grasping snatching toad, for my wants do you not care,
Since now my meal I’m owed, your fierce-toothed maw shall now be bare!”
Then did those long white teeth fall out, and ever thus did toad’s mouth pout,
But Gilrilion danced, as a tune did he find!
Gilrilion danced, and he leapt high and danced,
As keen-sighted bat flitted round his feet,
Swift feet, nimble fleet, prancing sweet.
Then called Gilrilion to bat by mete,
“Hey, now; small bat, don’t you go a’making me trip!
Then did that heedless bat dart this way and that,
And it made him trip, when high he skipped.
So then cursed Gilrilion as sprawled he sat,
“Flighty biting foolish bat, for my joys have ye no mind,
Since now I’ve been laid flat, your farseeing eyes shall now be blind!”
Then did those piercing eyes then fail, and evermore was bat’s sight veiled,
But Gilrilion hid, for on danger he’d chanced!
Gilrilion hid, and he shivered as he hid,
As sweet-singing wolf crept bent on his trail.
Elf quailed, blanching pale, at song-wolf’s tale.
Then cried Gilrilion with fearful wail,
“Hey, now; old wolf, don’t you go a’eating me up!”
Then did that evil warg spring forth and now hark!
For it ate him up! On elf it supped!
And in wolf Gilrilion called from belly dark,
“Nasty wicked no-good warg, to dine on me did you here prowl,
Hear now my curse and mark!, your beauteous songs from now shall howl!”
Now is that beauteous voice all broke, for on sly elf the wolf did choke!
But Gilrilion’s et and of him now we’re rid!
Bat and crow and toad and wolf,
All were true til elf they knew.
So pay me heed young mortal fool,
Be always good lest elves curse you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the assorted notes and files of Alain Lyss, digitised 9/9/24
