MOOMIN - THE RUFFLEMUSH
Moomintroll and Snufkin were talking of old times,
When they heard a tweet and a twit of an unfamiliar chime.
Moomintroll and Snufkin searched for what they'd heard,
When they found it in the garden; a small, peculiar bird.
"What is that?" asked Moomintroll, his eyes sparkling with glee,
Anything new was fun to him for he was filled with curiosity.
"This is a Rufflemush", said Snufkin, calm and wise,
Responding to the enquiry in his friend's sparkling eyes.
"The Rufflemush is a songbird who flies in people's dreams,
Though to see it in the open air is a mystery, it seems"
Moomintroll and Snufkin looked in thought and awe,
At the strange little dream bird. But what was it here for?
Moomintroll and Snufkin listened to its song,
It was mournful and sad, with little to dance along.
"What's the matter, little songbird?" asked Moomintroll
The Rufflemush shivered on its perch, but not because it was cold.
For the Rufflemush is foreign, and doesn't speak a word,
That is why it didn't answer him, even though it heard.
Snufkin rubbed his chin and thought, looking for an answer or two,
When at last he found the explanation or at least one that'll do.
"The Rufflemush is lost," he said to Moomintroll.
"It wants to find its way home, where its heart will become whole"
"But how can we find its home?" said Moomintroll in question.
Snufkin searched and searched, but couldn't find a suggestion.
The Rufflemush sung again, its rhythm sad and bleak,
And Moomintroll and Snufkin listened to its ever-miserable cheep.
When at last, the Rufflemush sighed, hopped and took flight,
Grimly carrying upon its back, its heavy, hopeless plight.
Moomintroll ran after the bird, offering his home as shelter,
But Snufkin only stopped him, by grabbing at his shoulder.
"The Rufflemush's home does not exist in air" said Snufkin, shaking his head.
"But if you want to help, you must think of it before you go to bed"
So Moomintroll spent the rest of the day, thinking about the songbird,
Wishing it may find its home, so a happier song could be heard.
When that night, he climbed into bed and Moominmama tucked him in,
He nodded off and thought of Snufkin and the advice he had given to him.
Moomintroll found himself in the land of his dreams,
A twisty-turny forestland with violent-rushing streams.
Moomintroll was frightened of this rather disturbing feat,
So he rushed around the hilly ground, looking for someone to meet.
Skyward grins and faces knocked Moomintroll off his feet,
And he cowered in a ball of himself, when he heard an almighty tweet.
For the Rufflemush had seen his plight and had rushed to his aid,
But it was large and magnificent, unlike the songbird, small and afraid.
The phoenix chased away the faces with flickering fingers of flame,
When Moomintroll stood up and laughed, for this dream will never be the same.
The Rufflemush looked at the happy Moomintroll and landed with godly grace,
And sung a grateful ballad, a smile upon its face.
Moomintroll couldn't stop thinking about the bird,
Or how it sang the saddest song and the greatest he'd ever heard.
Although it didn't exist in air and it wasn't available to own,
Moomintroll was nonetheless thankful he'd meet the bravest bird he'd ever known.