in ancient times
in hidden places
there lived a tribe
of small green faces
seldom seen by the human eye
these beings in fact were not always kind

a midsummers evening
when the moon was full
though hidden by clouds
the night was rather dull

a traveller walking home
tired and weak
saw a spot by a tree
and took a seat

he closed his eyes
and off he fell
into a world of dreams and secrets
so he could recover well

he dreamt of his daughter
pure and new
how he wished he was with her
and her mother too

but the dream took a twist
with an image too dark
for me to repeat
he awoke with a spark

panic in his blood
and a knot in his chest
he stood to continue
after his interrupted rest

but confusion then filled him
as he looked around
and did not recognise his surroundings
was this where he settled down?

"oh no" he whimpered
but little did he know
this was just the start
of the next few hours of woe

as very close by
not seen by his eye
were the mischievous imps
and faeries side by side

to play was all they wanted
their humour different to ours
ensuring the traveller was lost
would help them in the next few hours

as the traveller was stuck
and couldn't find his was home
which left his wife and child
unprotected; alone

around he paced
but no place he knew was found
though he wouldn't give up
and kept peering around

though at this time
the little green smirks
we're distracted by
the next part of their work

on their way to pick up the baby
a fake left in its place
would anyone notice? maybe

but the traveller grew weaker
and couldn't survive
the faeries fun almost ended
once he had died

i had to say almost
as the mother was left
not to know
that her husband was dead

and that it was not her child
that she watched grow
and we never found out
if she was ever in the know

and the impish beings
were still amused by this
and watched for a while
proud and guiltless

they giggled and laughed
at the mess they'd been making
then flew off to find
a new baby to swap for a changeling