The deep deep woods
is guarded by
a small small troll
two inches high;
he’ll challenge you
with round round eye
in little hole —
a sly sly spy.
If you would walk
his white white earth,
you pay his toll,
the tax on worth,
not in penny-ante cents
but still still pause
of reverence.
With many thanks to photographer Mary Jo Bassett.
And also thanks to Johnny Gruelle,
who introduced me to the deep deep woods in his Raggedy Ann stories ever so long ago.
Oddments 