*Spoiler alert!* This is a serial - don't jump into the middle! Part I is here.
II.
He took the ham, and put it on his shoulder,
And said goodbye, and turned to go outside.
Somehow the night had gotten even colder.
He couldn't think, no matter how he tried,
Of how to break the promise he had made.
And so he left the village far behind,
To walk to Dead Man's Hall, where people stayed
Forever out of sight, and out of mind.
Then some time later, he could see a light.
A man was chopping yule logs by a fire.
"Fine sir!" said he. "What friend is out tonight?"
"Just I, good fellow. All that I desire
Is help to find my way to Dead Man's Hall."
"Well, look no further then! Because you're there!
Is that a ham?? How nice of you to call
With ham to trade, and Christmas in the air!
"And what a ham! Enough for ev'ryone!
There's buying and there's selling to be done!
But listen - don't say yes to anyone,
"Unless they offer up the grinding mill.
They don't know that it's magic! So they will!"
End of Part II. Go to Part III.
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Alysa Salzberg
Melissa Miles McCarter
Scarlett Sumac
jlsathre
Matt Paust
Jowita Bydlowska
Salon.com
Comments
they cheat, they always do
(Appreciating, too, the precision in use of quotation marks. Silly, I know, but every once in awhile the old copy editor in me peeks through.)