Virn took his place at the Stone, standing straight with his hands clasped behind his back. He cleared his throat and confidently began, tapping his foot to the poem’s rhythm:
Those filthy Fessals steal our lives;
They rampage, pillage, and spoil.
But I took my stand to frustrate their plans,
Their vile works to foil.
So up and on high, I looked to the sky,
For protection and safety from harm.
Among limbs of green I’ll make my home,
Lovely and full of charm.
Said I, “They’ll clamor and howl and scream.
They’ll threaten and shake their arms.
But I’ll quietly sit in my room above,
Safe from their wish to harm.”
Ah! Clean boards, so smooth and straight,
Sawn from trees tall and sound,
The scent of my lumber is good and pure,
Filling the air all around.
To hammer and saw, to measure and plumb,
To level and tack and plane—
Such work brings joy to my hands and eyes,
As a home in the sky I gain.
“Oh, nails so sharp and hammer so hard,
Make ceiling hang fast to wall!”
With each firm stroke my home grew large,
And the fear of those Fessals grew small.
Moons waxed and waned, then waxed again,
As on and on time flowed.
Flowers budded, blossomed and bloomed,
As the march of the months never slowed.
But my dream of the tree and my home hanging free,
Though small and unsure at the start,
Has seen its fulfillment. My house has been built
By keen eye, strong arm, and stout heart.
My house has a kitchen and bedroom and hall,
Ceiling, walls, cupboards and floor,
The windows made strong, with wrought-iron bars,
And a clever, I say, ladder trap-door.
I’ll not be robbed by vermin again;
No more will I turn and flee.
I’ll stand my ground, though twenty feet up.
I’ve made my house in a tree.
So come on, you Fessals, attack if you dare.
You'll get no more taxes from me!
For I’ve beaten your plan, like no one else can
I’ve built my house in a tree!
Virn looked up from his notes and beamed at the audience expectantly, but they just sat there, staring. Virn stared back. When he realized there would be no applause, he blushed deeply, and returned to his place on the lawn.
Back to Episode 2
Table of Contents: The Worldheart Epic – Season 1