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The Beanstalk That Laid the Golden Eggs

Around the stalk a village grew.

Despite the perils from falling debris,

A steady trade in magic beans developed

(Though barter was bigger than outright sales),

Soup made from them, widely supposed

To make children grow tall and strong

Sold briskly, even though

It did neither, but it was tasty and nutritious.

Jack’s mother lived alone in her small hut,

Ensnared by the bean’s gigantic roots;

Jack had never returned from his fabled climb.

Every year a few boys, and once a girl,

Climbed up the twisted-cable stalks and disappeared,

None came back from the clouds.

A child ran into town square,

"Tim’s falling!" she screamed, pointing up,

(Her brother Tim had been the last

To assay the heights),

"Not Tim," the Mayor said;

The whole town watched.

A shadow grew

                         and grew

                                       and grew.

"Run!" one shouted.

The giant crushed half the town,

In a few days it stank up the other half,

The Mayor traded the last few beans

In the next village for a bowl of stew and a pint,

She stayed a while, but couldn’t sleep well,

So she didn’t settle there:

“Some day that stalk is gonna fall.”