The Pied Piper of Berk
Originally I intended to include this in a series of fairy tale spoofs, but soon after I began work I lost interest. At first I thought I would post this poem as a one-shot, but gradually ideas for new poems came to mind. I then began drafting ideas for some central theme and structure, but nothing really 'clicked' and I finally thought 'just post the poems in order of completion'.
For some time now I've been struck at the similarities between the first How to Train Your Dragon and the story of the Pied Piper. So here it is, my version of it.
Enjoy!
.
Upon the island known as Berk
Some 7 years before today
The villagers had a problem
And it refused to go away
"Dragons! Dragons! Dragons!
They burn down our homes, fences, and wagons
Dragons! Dragons! Dragons!
We only like them carved on our flagons!"
.
Dragons would come and raid the flocks
Filling the villagers with grief
And they fought back without success
And went to plead before their Chief
"Save us, save us, save us!
Rescue this island which the Gods gave us!
Save us, save us, save us!
These dragons might very well enslave us!"
.
The mighty Chief stood before them
A bag of money in his hand
Cried he "I'll give this to the one
Who drives the dragons from our land!"
Money, money, money!
Each villager's heart hopped like a bunny
Money, money, money!
It gleamed in the sun like melted honey
.
Into the village strolled a boy
A large black dragon by his side
They heard the woes and the offer
And excitedly the boy cried
"Be friends, be friends, be friends!
Both sides apologize and make amends!
Be friends, be friends, be friends!
That's how, once and for all, this conflict ends!"
.
The villagers first gaped, then laughed
Why, the boy was completely nuts!
Said they "Make friends with those monsters?
Why, they'd kill us and eat our guts!"
"Not true, not true, not true!
Dragons are friendly and good through and through!
Not true, not true, not true!"
The boy declared, "And I'll prove it to you!"
.
He pulled out a flute and played it
And the dragons, as if possessed
Came to him like big, playful dogs
And they were patted and caressed
"You see, you see, you see?
They don't have any wish to injure me!
You see, you see, you see?
They can be trained if you act patiently"
.
But the villagers were not pleased
And the Chief held back the reward
Roaring "the friend for these devils
Is the pointed edge of my sword!
Get out, get out, get out!
Take your 'friends' with you and go die of gout!
Get out, get out, get out!
Berk's no place for your type to hang about!"
.
The boy was hurt and very mad
His black Dragon was just as cross
And so the boy firmly declared
"So be it, but this is your loss!
But wait, but wait, but wait!
The children here deserve a better fate!
But wait! But wait! But wait!
I'll save them from you and this place of hate!"
.
He played his flute a second time
The youngsters approached then and there
They climbed onto the pleased dragons
And they flew off into the air
Taken, taken, taken!
The Vikings were horribly shaken
Taken, taken, taken!
Their rage was hot enough to fry bacon!
.
It's said the ones taken that day
Were thrilled with their new life style
And they lived much more happily
And called Berk's traditions 'vile'
Impeached, impeached, impeached
Were the violent ways Berk's elders had preached
Impeached, impeached, impeached!
And that's as far as this story has reached