This poem came out of the
October Crowdfunding Creative Jam. It was inspired by a prompt from
stryck who then went on to write another poem inspired by it. Read the related poem "
Horns and Hooves" by
stryck. I decided that posting this one was only fair in return.
Saanen goats look like this. They are a very popular breed of dairy goat.
The Goatherd Troll
The troll does not live under a bridge,
but in a tidy little cabin up the mountain
where the grass grows in sheltered meadows.
He keeps a herd of thirty white Saanens,
their calm temper a soothing presence,
their bells like distant music.
He milks them every morning and every evening,
ushering each one into the stanchion
with a scoop of grain and a kind word.
Let other trolls mug the travelers for their gold.
He makes soft white cheese to sell in the market
and daisy chains to share with the human girls.