I not long ago discovered this wonderful and charming little website for short stories, called Shortbread Stories.
Whilst browsing through the stories, I came across this beautiful fantasy/fable story/poem and loved it so much I had to share it with the world, with the author’s permission of course.
Head over to the site to leave the author, Steve Douglas, a comment or to read more stories by him and other writers.
The Giant And The Leprechaun by Steve Douglas
The giant and the leprechaun were walking by the sea,
The giant towered ten feet tall; the leprechaun but three,
He crossed the sand quite easily in mighty giant strides;
The leprechaun ran breathlessly along right by his side,
But both were quite oblivious to the turning of the tide.
*
They talked of great philosophers, the power of the mind,
Of which belief could be the greatest use for all mankind.
They both agreed that true salvation always lay within,
That there was no such thing as God, or Judgement Day, or sin,
And all the while along the shore the tide came pounding in…
*
The leprechaun said every living thing had equal worth;
The giant thought the strongest should be rulers of the Earth.
He said that giants everywhere should rise and take command;
The leprechaun disputed that one race should own the land,
And both were too absorbed to spot the softening of the sand…
*
The minutes passed, the sea swept close, but on went their debate,
And when they thought of turning back they found it was too late,
The giant found that he was trapped, the sand around his knees,
And from nearby he heard his small companion’s desperate pleas –
The leprechaun and he were at the mercy of the seas…
*
They struggled with the sucking sand and tried to stay their fears,
And being good philosophers exchanged their best ideas.
“I’m powerful and strong! I will survive!” the giant said,
The leprechaun replied, “the sea is almost at my head!
And if you don’t act quickly then you know we’ll both be dead.”
*
The giant’s weight had carried him too deep into the sand,
So he was glad to hear his smaller friend had something planned.
He crouched beside the leprechaun and faced the rushing sea,
Then using every ounce of strength he slowly pulled him free,
And held him high above his head, so powerful was he!
*
The sea now at his waist, the giant’s plight was really grim,
He knew that he was fortunate the leprechaun could swim,
That he could swim to land and find whatever help lay there,
But also knew that there was not a moment left to spare,
And all that he could do till then was face the sea and stare.
*
Just when he thought that death had come, submerged beneath the sea,
He heard the sounds of giants, who had come to winch him free –
He heard the sounds of cheering crowds above the ocean’s roar,
And saw that all the leprechauns were lined up on the shore,
And knew he’d owe a debt to leprechauns forever more.
~storytelling nomad~
storytelling nomad 