Poetry inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia

The Ballad of the Autumn Dryads

The Ballad of the Autumn Dryads

Autumn has arrived at last
Changing the forests everywhere.
All the dryads of the wood
Gather to show their autumn hair.

In a circle they stand together,
They must choose the autumn queen.
The dryad with fairest colors
Will be crowned the fairest tree.

First the pine dryad takes a step
And speaks in an evergreen tone,
"I believe I am the one
who should have the autumn throne!"

"You all change when autumn comes,
And in winter lose your leaves;
But I stand fair all year round,
And remain forever green!"

"You all look as though you're dead
When your leaves fall to the ground!
Yet even when the winter comes,
I stand, tall, and green and proud!"

"How dare you insult us so!"
The willow dryad indignantly calls,
"You remain dull green all the year,
While I brighten the forest in the fall!"

The pine coldly turns her head,
"I would prefer if you do not interrupt."
The willow glares in return,
"I believe you have spoken long enough!"

"So do I," the birch dryad says,
"It is time I spoke my share!
I who am most delicate of trees,
I who am the most fair!"

"When autumn comes to Narnia
My lovely leaves turn to gold.
They brighten up to wood around!
Dryads, the throne is mine alone."

"Your leaves wither and fall to soon,"
The apple dryad scorns,
"When the wind blows through the woods,
Yours are the first that will be torn!"

"Your leaves are just as weak!"
The chestnut dryad now speaks up,
"And the color they become,
Why it is something to be ashamed of!"

"Now listen to me you young ones,"
The oak dryad speaks with pride,
"The throne and the crown of autumn,
Sister dryads, should be mine!"

"I am older than all of you,
I have stood for many a year;
When you all were little saplings,
I braved the storms with no fear."

"You rleaves turn an ugly brown!"
Says the mulberry dryad in disgust.
"The title Queen of Autumn
To you I would never trust!"

On and on the argument goes,
Each one thinks that she is best;
She deserves the crown and throne,
Far greater than all the rest!

Finally the words run out,
And silence replaces cruel remarks.
The fire of conceit dies out,
Yet still clings in hateful sparks.

"Has everyone spoken their share?"
The oak dryad at last speaks.
"All but one," the birch replies,
"Where is the dryad of the maple tree?"

"Here I am!" a honey voice calls,
"For my tardiness please don't hate.
I had so much to do today,
Forgive me, sisters for being late"

"I visited my friends today,
To give them autumn cheer,
To share with them the yellow leaves,
That autumn bestows but once a year."

"How glad I am that Aslan grants
A time of year for us to change!
How boring it would be
If we would always be the same!"

"I walked through the woods today,
Drinking in the colors on display;
I loves how each of us,
Is beautiful is her own way."

"To give joy when all is white,
The pine remains green all year round.
The willow's leaves are fair,
As they hang low to the ground."

"The birch touches the heart,
With her small golden leaves.
And her sister no less fair,
Is of course the apple tree!"

"The oak stands and and majestic,
Giving a feeling of of royalty.
And you, dear chestnut, bring delight
With your lovely dancing leaves!"

"Delicate as the icing on the cake
Is the adorable mulberry tree.
And to make the forest complete
Are the rowan, the olive, the cherry!"

"Oh my dear sisters, how I love,
The colors that Aslan granted to you!
Though each is different, all are special,
You make the woods fair and true!"

"But oh dear, I fear once more
My mouth has spoken words to much.
Tell me sister, what was it,
That we have gathered to discuss?"

All the dryads looked at another
Filled with guilt and shame;
They had tried to make the other see
Why the queen they must be named.

But the young maple dryad,
Had ne're spoken a word of pride.
She had blessed each of their trees;
And her own she had denied.

The oak dryad spoke at last
As she looked at the maple tenderly,
"My dearest sister, maple dryad,
I believe we have found our autumn queen!"

The maple dryad widened her eyes
"Surely you cannot mean me!
I fear it would not be right,
To crown the simple maple tree."

"Your humility and meekness,
Are what make you most fair!
A heart that is as precious
As leaves of gold in your hair!"

"We ask that you accept
The title of the autumn queen;
Because you are fairest of us all
Clothed in your humility!"

"Your leaves are gold and red
And you stand straight and tall;
But you are not selfish or proud,
And share your leaves with one and all!"

"Your beauty as you stand,
Makes travelers turn their head.
Yet you never laugh and boast
But give all glory to Aslan instead."

The other dryads nodded their head,
They agreed with the dryad of the oak;
They had come to see the truth
Of which their sister had just spoke.

And so the title queen of autumn
Was given to the dryad of the maple;
She was fair, and she was humble
And to Aslan she was faithful.

And moral of this simple story,
About the dryads of the trees;
Is that humility and gentleness
Are the true robes of a queen!