Canto III

Canto III

Second-born Stiggs set out after Istray, his

Money-purse jangling, his greedy eyes searching for

A cheap material. Soon Stiggs

Reached a forest, and stopped by a stream.

He was amazed by the driftwood dropped by

The stream on the shore. A tatty timber, it was, but

For free! Stiggs smirked, and proceeded to pick up the sticks.

He took the big bits, and bundled the bitty parts

Together, with torn bark and dried grass.

His house grew, on that very bank,

From twigs and sticks, driftwood and weeds.

Halfway through was Stiggs when night fell. He

Returned to the fork in the road, and traveled the left

Division, daring that his brother might

Have finished with his house.

Stiggs spent that night, in the house of hay, with

His brother Istray. In the morning he returned to his

Building, and had the roof on by noon.

Drafty and cold it might be, but

It was a cheap shelter, a sanctuary of sticks.

Greedy Stiggs was satisfied.