Nature poem

Ding a ling a ling 

Spring is knocking at the door

Spring smiles happily

CHASE

You make me run.

You're no fun.

It hurts a lot.

now I'm caught.

On the ground.

twitching around.

no more feeling. 

looking at the ceiling.

The Old Wise Man By: Gavin Ritchie

In a small, mountain valley where there wasn’t much excitement, except for the annual harvest day feast and market day. Market day was when all the travelers would haul their carts up into the valley to sell,  trade,  tell stories and sing songs. Market day was Conor’s favorite day of the year, except of course his birthday. Conor was a young man of 14 and had saved up his money from working in the fields with Mr. Jamison. He wanted to spend it at the market. That morning he had counted his money and he had 5 silver pieces and 9 coppers. Oh he felt so rich he started to think of all the good things to eat and all the fun things he could do with his money. As he yelled goodbye to his mother and siblings he raced out the door and down the hillside to the center of town where the carts had already begun to rattle up the dirt road. In town, things were beginning to get started.

Down in the town’s center, carts and their vendors were preparing for a long day of work. Most of the carts were brown with brown wheels and a brown canopy, but one stood out from the others. A solid white cart with shiny silver wheels and white canopy. This cart looked strange and out of place among the other brown carts. Vendors all around the market were whispering, “where was the white cart’s vendor and how did it get there,” for there was no horse attached to the hitch and, “where was the vendor’s sign?” All the other vendors had signs for their carts. Eventually everyone lost interest and decided that it was more important to get ready than to worry who’s cart it was and what it was doing there. Up on the hill people were starting to come down to get an early start on market day.

Conor ran into town as fast as he could when he got to the edge of town he didn’t even slow down until he was in the center of the market. He loved the market, the smell of the food, the cool kites that soared above, and all the little kids running around and playing with pinwheels and other toys sold in the market. As he walked around the market he slowly spent all his money. He bought food, a small spinning top for his youngest brother, a cool looking cap and a little yellow bird. In no time at all, he was down to his last silver piece. He was looking for the best place to spend it. Then, he spotted the white cart he wondered why there weren't any pictures or signs of what the cart sold and where was the vender and why who he or she left their cart unattended. He decided to look inside and see what was going on. Conor opened the door slowly expecting a creaky/squeaky noise but there was no noise at all. As he peered into the cart what he saw made him speechless with awe. There in the center of the cart sat an ancient man with long stringy white hair and skin which looked as if he were a prune. To the left of him sat an equally old silvery grey dog with what looked like a beard of his own,  but the most astonishing part was what was in front of the old man a raging fire. The orange and red glow cast by the fire illuminated the interior of the cart. The old man was silent for what seemed like eternity.  

When the old man spoke his voice was of a god not an old man his voice echoed in the small confines of the cart.

The old man said one word, “SIT,“but with enough force to knock down an entire forest with a single gust.

Conor did as the man said he sat. Conor said, “Who are you?”

The old man replied and said , “I am Eli the wise.”

Conor then asked, “What do you sell in this cart sir?”

Eli’s reply astonished Conor. He said. “Knowledge.”

“How can you sell knowledge,” asked Conor with sneaking suspicion.

“I am as ancient as the earth. I know all.” Conor was still hesitant when the man said, “You have a family of 5, do you not?”

“Yes how did you know that?” Answered Conor.

“Like I said boy, I know all.” Conor was hooked. He gave the man his last sliver piece. The old man said, “You have come seeking knowledge and you have found it.”

“What?” Shouted Conor.

“You stole my money, that wasn't the knowledge I wanted. Give me my money back.”

“Sorry, no refunds,” said the man. And with that, he shoved Conor out his door and locked the door behind him.

Conor spotted Mr. Jamison and rushed over to him. “He stole it, he took it, and he won't give it back,” Conor said through heavy breaths.

Who my dear boy replied Mr. Jamison.

The man in the white cart he stole my money. replied Conor  

Well than we must go get it back then. said Mr Jamison through gritted teeth.

(THUD) (THUD) (THUD)

Mr Jamison banged on the wooden white door.

ENTER Said a voice from within.

As they pair entered the cart it looked as it did before with fire and all. Mr. Jamison was in shock of what was in front of him.

“ Now sir this young man tells me you took his money.” Stated Mr. Jamison

“Not so Mr. Jameson I did not take Conor’s Money”  Replied the man with no emotion on his face.

“Well mister I trust this kid much more than a stranger like you.” said Mr Jamison

“Could I earn your trust.” said Eli with a smile tugging at the edges of his lips

“Maybe,” replied Mr. Jamison.

“Well sir your wife is pregnant with your first born, you own around 40 acres of land and your farm hand lucky is ill.”

Astonished Mr Jamison said “ What how can you know these things.”

“I know all.” said Eli

“I have to go home and tell my wife.” said Mr. Jamison as he ran home.

The next day everyone was whispering about the white cart and it’s owner. By midday there was a long line in front of the white cart Conor was infuriated this man had stole his money and was now stealing everyone else’s money. Soon everyone in the valley had gone to the cart but unfortunately what the townspeople didn't know was that the old man was actually a thief that was stealing their money. At the end of the week he had almost taken all of the town's people's money. but Connor was still doubtful of his so called powers.

 
At daybreak all the carts left the center of town in a single file line and rumbled down the dirt path down towards wherever they came from. The old man sat atop his cart with a steel black chest next to him. He loved the people of these isolated towns they fell for the oldest tricks in the book. After he was a good 3 miles away he decide to count his money so he took the key from around his neck and unlocked the chest he opened the chest. To his surprise it was empty, empty, all his money was gone every last gold,silver, and copper piece gone. He yelled in his frustration and all the way back in the town a small boy was sitting on his front step with a leather bag next to him. When he heard the scream he chucked to himself he opened the bag and smiled at all the gold, silver, and copper pieces in the bag. Then he said to no one in particular I guess he doesn't know all.

WELCOME

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