Classic Poem

Now little Nils Finn had away to go;
The skis were too loose at both heel and toe.
— " That's too bad! " rumbled yonder.

Then little Nils Finn in the snow set his feet:
" You ugliest troll, you shall never me cheat! "
— " Hee-ho-ha! " rumbled yonder.

Nils Finn with his staff beat the snow till it blew:
" Your trollship, now saw you how hapless it flew? "
— " Hit-li-hu! " rumbled yonder.

Nils Finn pushed one ski farther forward with might;
The other held fast, — he reeled left and right.
— " Pull it up! " rumbled yonder.

Nils' tears wet the snow, while he kicked and he struck
The more that he kicked there, the deeper he stuck.
— " That was good! " rumbled yonder.

The birch-trees, they danced, and the pine-trees sail " Hoo! "
They more were than one, — were a hundred and two.
— " Know your way? " rumbled yonder.

A laugh shook the ridge till it made the snow fly;
But Nils clenched his fists and he swore 't was a lie.
— " Now beware! " rumbled yonder. —

The snow-field yawned wide, and the heavens came low;
Nils thought 't was now time for him also to go.
— " Is he gone? " rumbled yonder. —

Two skis in the snow looked about everywhere,
But saw nothing much; for there was nothing there.
— " Where is Nils? " rumbled yonder.