"Abracadabra" came a voice from above, "Lend me a hand there, boy, will you please? This spell isn't working, not working at all I think it has something to do with the trees." I looked at the silly old man in his cloak; His long curly beard gave way to a sneeze, "Boy, help me, you must, I have to get down," Said the wizard with a cough and a wheeze. He reached out his hand, which I took, and he jumped And rolled to a stop on the ground. Then, from his cloak, he took out a wand, And waved it and cried, "Thou art bound!" All of the sudden, from every direction Flew twisty green vines in the air. They knotted around me, I fell to the dirt As the wizard glared, "Where, my boy, where? "Where is the key that unlocks the stone gate, The gold one you stole from my tower? Don't play games with me, boy, this is real, And you now are under my power." "I don't understand," I said with a frown, "What is this key you're talking about? I've never heard of such a queer thing." The old man's eyes filled with doubt. "Don't lie to me, boy, it's not safe for your health, Remember, you're full in my sway, And if you won't tell me, won't show me the key, Some nasty games we'll have to play. "So hand it on over, don't keep it back, You're wasting my time, boy, hurry it up." "But my hands aren't loose," I said with a stare, "And -- my, you are a queer nut." For his beard had changed to a coppery color, His wrinkles had plain disappeared, In place of the old man stood Fire and Ice. And then shivers swept me with fear. The clouds had grown dark with an eery blue tint, A stinging breeze swept 'cross my face. The dark sorc'rer laughed with maniacal glee Saying, "This, boy, this is my place, "And stay here you must till I see that key, The one you say you don't hold, But surely you're lying and soon you'll be dying Unless you give me the gold." "I've already told you," I said once again, "I've never seen this key of yours. Now please let me go -- I have things to do." The sorc'rer stomped, shrieked and roared. "Give me the key," he commanded in fury, "My patience has long disappeared. And if you do not within, oh, say five minutes, Things will get worse than you feared." Thunder erupted from up in the heavens, Knives of light fell to the ground, Crackling blue fire swept out from the forest. Then came the earth-shaking Sound. A deep, rumbling cry from the sorc'rer's stretched throat Melted the hills into water, And chasms appeared in the once-solid dirt. Then my legs started to totter, For a crack had appeared underneath my two feet, In seconds it split five feet wide. "Stop this!" I cried, and then said in pure fright, "Alright, I admit it, I lied." Then I put down the book and got up for a snack, Stretched out my arms and took a long nap, Dreamt of the wizard, the Sound and the key, And how it all started in one slim gray tree.