The Stranger

By Rick Williams


A sleepy village changed the day
a wandering stranger came.
They had no clue their mundane lives
would never be the same.

A pair of zebras led his cart
a sight quite rare indeed
for people there had never seen
a creature of this breed.

If that were not quite odd enough
his wagon caught their gaze;
adorned with flames of swirling colors
that seemed to dance and blaze.

The man himself was very short
his ears a curious shape
he wore a tall, orange, shiny hat
and and a green & purple cape.

His mustache formed two graceful loops;
each framed a rosy cheek,
and each one of them ended
in a sharply-pointed peak.

On his chin a tiny bell
hung from a wispy beard.
It jingled very faintly
as his throat he cleared.

"Spread the word to one and all:
I've brought something to share!
Tell family, friends, and foes alike
to be here in this square."

"You'll not want to miss out
and it's absolutely free,
so tell everyone in town
that here they'll want to be."

"I'll be back later tonight
after you drink and dine.
I'll answer all your questions then
and fill your curious minds."

With that he turned and sat back down
and whistled a curious tone
the zebras jumped and off they flew
leaving blank-faced folks alone.

Several folks chased after him
but stopped at the first turn.
They stared with sudden disbelief
No trace could they discern.

They muttered, "Not a trace of dust
or track--how can that be?
He vanished like a ghost, he did
and we were there to see!"

Slowly, folks began to leave
and go about their day
But there was lots of talk
and lots of things to say.

When evening came upon the town
and the hour was drawing near
The town square filled with villagers
though the reason was unclear.

"Who was he?" many people asked,
"Why do we make this fuss?"
"What is this thing he said he had
to give away to us?"

Suddenly, the crowd grew silent
and there was heard a sound.
A clopping noise came from behind
And people turned around.

The stranger had arrived again
and silence did ensue,
and as he rolled into the throng
the crowd slowly withdrew.

When he reached the center
of the village square he stopped.
He stood and smiled down at the folks
then from his seat he dropped.

There was a murmur from the crowd
as people tried to see
what the stranger's business was,
and who he claimed to be.

He opened up the carriage door
and put a stool upon the ground,
and with a basket full of bottles
he stepped up and looked around.

"Hark ye! Gather near to me--
come hither with great haste.
move quickly before the day is done
let not a minute waste."

"You there, small timid man
with long and crooked nose;
I see that curiosity
within you surely grows."

"You too, old woman
there, way in back
with grey-streaked hair
and dressed in black."

"Come forth, good people
for I have brought
something that you surely need
but currently have not."

"I offer you salvation
from discomfort and from pain
to you I give my bottled cure.
From payment please refrain."

"I see from many faces here
that are staring out at me,
that some of you are skeptics
while others yearn to see."

"Worry not the least dear friends,
it is my gift to you.
My payment is to see you well
when tomorrow's sky turns blue."

He offered bottles in both hands
held outward toward the fray
and slowly townsfolk inched in close
to what he held their way.

"Don't be afraid," he volunteered
as he held the bottles out.
"There's nothing here unsafe for you
of that please have no doubt."

The townsfolk began to make their way
to the stranger's outstretched arms
and slowly excitement began to grow
as they were caught up in his charms.

No one seemed to notice
that he had the exact amount
of bottles for each person there
or that he did without a count.

Soon everyone was drinking
and the contents were all gone
and people looked around to see if
anything was going on.

A murmur rose from in the crowd
and it began to rise.
"I don't feel any different...
...how about you?" became the cries.

The stranger climbed back up atop
the zebra-powered cart.
He stood and faced the crowd once more
and held his arms apart.

"You'll see or feel nothing at all
until the morning light.
So just relax and go about
your evening, and good night."

He turned and sat upon the seat
and gave the reins a shake
and suddenly he and his cart were gone
leaving chaos in his wake.

When morning came the town was still;
no people and no sound.
There were still the sounds of nature
but no humans were around.

Then in the eerie stillness
a familiar sound was heard:
The stranger and his zebra's hooves
where the only thing that stirred.

He paused at each and every door
while the zebras patiently stood
he went inside and came back with
anything that looked good.

When he had went through every house
he had spent the entire day,
a multitude of very tiny folks
watched him roll away.