The Elf That Only Worked With Wood

                                                              THE ELF THAT ONLY WORKED WITH WOOD

Out in Santa's grotto

Sits a lonely little elf

His tools for making toys

Gathering dust upon a shelf

He never gets a job for toys

He only works with wood

So when it comes to modern toys

He isn't very good

The other elves sit all in rows

All working on the line

But he hasn't made a toy in years

To make him feel so fine

Some of the elves torment him

Passing notes underneath his door

"Please can you make a tooth pick

Can it be done by four"

Santa saw he was unhappy

The lack of jobs had made him low

He looked sadly at Mrs Claus and said

"I'm going to have to let him go

He's really been a good elf

But technology has hit him hard"

He sat down to work out what he was owed

For his redundancy card

Now 10 days before Christmas

All the worlds power did go out

"How can we continue to make toys"

The elves began to shout

But then they remembered the wise old elf

How in his room he did hide

They knew what they had to do

So they all queued up outside

Gently they gave a knock

There was something they had to say

The old elf thought it was another prank

And shouted "Go away"

"We really need a favour

From an elf with just your skills

All the worlds power has gone out

They must not have paid their bills"

But still he wasn't biting

The door stayed firmly shut

"We're sorry if we've been horrid

A right pain in your butt

But there is a situation

One that's really not so good

The only toys that will save Christmas

Are those made out of wood"

From behind them came a bigger voice

From a bearded man dressed all in red

"The elves really need your help

Please listen to what's being said"

The elf inside unlocked the door

And one by one in they stepped

To room full of colourful things

Where wonderful toys were kept

Strange tools they'd never seen before

Were hanging all around

Wooden toys of different types

Lined up on the ground

"We'll have to get a move on

There isn't any time to slack

We won't have time to sleep"

But all the elves stared back

"We don't know how to make these toys

We've never worked with wood

We'd really love to help you

But our toys won't be any good"

"I'm sorry you'll just have to try

Just do what I do

So gather around and concentrate"

But they didn't have a clue

All the elves stood and watched

As the tools began to purr

He worked so fast and skillfully

It really was a blur

In only a few minutes

A train was on the bench

But the elf he wasn't stopping

His eagerness he couldn't quench

After oh so many quiet years

His tools no longer full of dust

Now he can finally prove his worth

He didn't show no signs of rust

One by one they picked up tools

The pile of toys began to grow

Feeling bad for all their name calling

As his skills to them he did show

Working non stop till Christmas Eve

Until all the toys were made

All packed up on Santa's sleigh

A disaster they did evade

So because of that wise old elf

Who could only work in wood

All the worlds children had a Christmas

That was very very good

Author's Note

This was so close to becoming a children's book

Reviews

[bigfootprint]

Wonderful work, George. You must have shared this many times to a circle of children before the Christmas tree. Well constructed, the narrative is compelling, and the conversation realistic. You could illustrate it and sell it at toy stores, scheduling readings and such. Sure sounds like you love Christmastime. Might be best seller yet. You tell a good story.

[George David Hope]

Glad you enjoyed it. I posted this on another poetry website and they urged me to try and get it published. It was so close to getting done when they hit me with the quote that it would cost £400 per page for illustrations. I told them that I couldn't afford it so it would be best if I put the project on hold till I had the money to go ahead with it. They pestered and pestered me to not stop it until it got very heated down the phone when my father overheard the conversation...needless to say they never called back. My daughter is really good at art but says she won't do the pictures for me..despite me saying she could enter it into her GCSE art exam at school

[bigfootprint]

You might find a market for this piece by printing a few copies on whatever page size it requires, with a Christmas border or background illustration. KwikPrint used to do this kind of small job. That way you could put copies a few frames and market it at your local festivals or through a local civic group.

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

putting it in the library...Ill let you know if I come across and illustrator It would be a beautiful children's book!

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

THIS is darling! I love Christmas time and wooden toys...good solid story with a great moral! Should be a book for sure!

[George David Hope]

Thanks for the review.Glad you liked it.

[Chris Shaw]

I think it would make a wonderful children's book. This kid really enjoyed the read. Well done George. Ideal Christmas story.

All good wishes

Chris

[George David Hope]

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed it

[Chris Shaw]

You are welcome George.