Nimrodel

An Elven-maid there lived of old,
With elder sisters two;
Her shining hair in winter cold
She vainly plaited true.

A star she wore between the braids,
A fur-lined cloak above
Fair Nimrodel her sister-maids
Did oft with envy move.

Her sisters once upon her gazed
As under tree she lay;
They snickered long, noses upraised,
And planned cruel tricks to play

Beneath the golden mallorn tree
By falls of Nimrodel
The elder two crept quietly
To toss her in the well!

Where now the youngest is none know,
In sunlight or in shade:
For Nimrodel was banished so
E'en while the prank was played.

That dreadful day her elder kin
While envy shook their hearts
Each took an arm, and tossed her in
The roaring river parts.

A wind rose quickly from the deep
And up the roaring fall
Fair Nimrodel with anger steep
Soared high with dreadful call.

Her siblings trembled in their spot
For now they saw, too late -
Their little sister's wrath was wrought
With power, and with hate.

The river rose to meet her cry,
And snatching up the two,
It flung them down and tossed them high
Their pranks all to redo.

"Oh, mercy!" cried the soggy pair
As helplessly they soared
Around, around in frosty air -
But Nimrodel was bored.

Her eyes flashed brightly, fierce and fell,
Like starlight dark and dank;
She turned away to end the spell,
And tarried on the bank.

They shivered thrice and crawled to her,
With fearful, trembling eyes.
She raised a hand, doom to declare;
A shriek rose in the skies!

Their mother came with shrieks most fell
And bold fist raised on high
"What did I tell you, Nimrodel?!
Get gone, come never nigh!"

Protesting long, the elven-maid
Did glare with visage fey.
But mother's word was not unsaid;
She fumed and stalked away.

She traveled long: her deeds are now
By bards sung in the sun.
It is not here remembered how
Or if her story's done.

For where she wanders none can tell
But all who follow, hark!
Learn from the Lay of Nimrodel
No fair one's wrath to spark.

From the Stupid Ring Parody II.6.