The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Once upon a time there were three billy goats called gruff
Who liked to use their curly horns to show that they were tough.
A river raced along throughout their home of rolling hills
But they knew that falling in would only result in chills.
Piles of leafy greens decorated the other side,
A sight they wished to reach but had never really tried.
Across the arc of wood wafted the smell of sweat grass,
But over the creaky planks the goats would have to pass.
A big ugly troll kept watch over the bridge
As the billy goats gruff peaked out from over top their ridge.
The greenery they dreamt of made their stomachs grumble loudly
And the two youngest goats waited until the third was sleeping soundly.
They plotted and planned the way they’d get across,
They were tired of the way the oldest had been acting as the boss.
The only thing they knew that would calm the angry monster
Was offering a sacrifice, ripe and juicy for the slaughter.
The very next morning when the sun was highest in the sky
The pair went to their older brother and told him a sneaky lie.
“Brother, we’ve found a way to get to the other field”,
But their real plan was never supposed to be revealed.
Their idea was very simple,
A trick they had prepared,
For the biggest of the bunch must suffer for them to be spared.
“Look across the field brother and tell me what you see”
“All that lovely grass, just sitting there for me!”.
Just across the water a feast was laid out waiting,
But two of the goats knew the hungry troll was up to baiting.
The pair went and told their leader about their special plan,
He eagerly agreed, not suspecting any scams.

 

Driven by his empty gut, the first goat took a shaky step.
The smallest of the bunch had always been the bravest,
He was counting on his plan to be enough to save him.
His hooves clicked loudly across the walkway made of wood,
He knew the moment the structure shook that what was coming wasn’t good.
A fierce beast clambered up from below and bellowed at the goat,
“Who dares step on my bridge, tell me, I must know!”.
“It’s only me, the smallest goat” he whispered.
“Then I shall gobble you up!” The beast exclaimed with glee,
The shaking goat was praying to his offer he would agree.
“I am only skin and bones but my brother is much more tasty!”,
Suddenly to eat the animal, the troll was not so hasty.
At his words, the troll retreated back beneath the bridge,
Promised a bigger meal, he was happy to do the switch.

The second goat clambered up onto the timber path,
Fearing that his day would surely end in a bloody bath.
His hoof knocked against a rusty nail that was poking out,
The waiting beast had heard this clinking sound without a doubt.
A large blister covered hand latched onto the railing on the side,
The goat couldn’t stop his shaking no matter how hard he tried.
“Who dares attempt to cross my river?” The ugly ogre roared,
To upset the creature the second brother really couldn’t afford.
“It’s only me, the second goat” he squeaked.
The ogre was quick to light up with joy,
Unaware the little goat already had a ploy.
“Don’t you want to wait to gobble my biggest brother?”,
The troll heard his question and took a minute or so to ponder.
Once again he retreated back underneath the structure
To wait until he’d get to munch on the biggest, fattest brother.

Finally the time had come for the last brother to join his siblings,
Thinking they had calmed the monster so that he could keep on living.
He walked unsuspecting halfway towards the valley,
No idea this last step would surely be his finale.
The troll jumped up from his hiding spot below,
Taking down the goat in a single gut-wrenching blow.
The injured goat stared back into his yellow snake-like eyes,
Sensing it was his final sight before he’d surely die.
His brothers mouths were already full of dewy grass
And at this sight the third brothers heart shattered just like glass.
Suddenly the troll attacked in a tremendous flash of lightening,
The other goats turned their backs not to witness something so frightening.
Then once again, they turned towards the bridge,
The only thing remaining was a tuft of fur, a smidge.
And just as if their older brother had never really existed,
The two goats continued munching on the feast for two,
Not paying attention to the bones floating in the distance.