Many fallow years had stretched
Since Bubba last had flown.
So outside of his legends
Little else was known.
But one tale yet remains intact
Untainted by hear-say
That tells of how our hamster kin
Was sainted one fine day.
No cloud was overhead that day
To hint at what would pass.
No bluer could the sky have been,
No greener could be grass.
His rounds complete and Wyewood safe
Bubba's mind turned toward fun,
His impish grin betrayed thoughts
Of a Wyewood wayward son.
Southward flew our hamster
In good time without a stop
Until he perched outside of
Lord Sebastian 's weapon shop.
He wondered should he knock,
Or surprise him and sneak in.
Answered was his question before
He could think it once again.
A figure shot right past him
Slapping Bubba on the wing,
Laughing, "Tag you're it! That is,
If it you fair can bring!"
Bubba paused a moment,
But the blinking of an eye,
An eye that went a-twinkle
'Midst a hamster battle cry!
Gleefully sped Bubba
Into a grove of hazelnut
Where he caught Sebastian up
And he bit him on the ankle.
The squire yelped out loud
More from surprise than any pain,
Falling in a heap
So our dear hamster pounced again.
Thus twas the day well spent
Between these two companions boon
Racing, wrestling, laughing
Until late that afternoon.
And just when Lord Sebastian felt
They should be turning 'round
A scream erupted from nearby
Their hearts froze at the sound
Twas but a moment that they paused
Before they were off again
Rushing not away from harm
But toward the growing din
When the duo broke from the trees,
Onto a scene they burst
That caused Bubba to growl out loud.
Lord Sebastian cursed.
A lone maiden at center stood
Her hair cropped like a man
Her guards all lay dead on the ground
Before a roguish band
"What say we even odds my friend?"
Sebastian's sword was drawn
And waiting not for a reply
He met the horde head on
Much destruction smote his sword
And much by hamster claw.
Those who still stood upright
Could do nothing but withdraw.
When satisfied the rogues had fled
Sebastian turned to face
The maid who hadn't moved an inch
And stood stalwart in place.
A certain strength shown in her stance,
Regal, proud, and wise
And yet a vuln'rability
Flickered in her eyes
Bubba flew and broke the spell
Landing in her arms
The maiden looked down at him
And giggled at his charms.
She looked back at Sebastian
As if about to speak
The spell again was broken,
This time by a hamster squeak.
Of the roguish band the two
Had made quite quick work
But neither'd seen the archer
Who in the woods did lurk.
But Bubba's ear detected
the bowstring being drawn
Before Sebastian knew it,
The hamster was just gone.
Bubba sped into the trees
To try to head off fate
But when he heard the bowstring twang
He knew he was too late.
The arrow bore down on him
His destiny seemed sealed
But never one to give up hope
The hamster spun and reeled
Once again through luck and skill
Bubba dodged Death's cold sting
But Death took consolation
The shaft grazed Bubba's wing
Bubba fell then earthward
For the moment void of flight
The roars that issued from him
Made the archer jump with fright.
The archer ran off screaming
Fearing he had paid the toll
And Bubba was a demon coming
Now to eat his soul.
Had Bubba had his flight then
Just like lightning he would fly
And pluck the arrow from the air
So no one else need die.
Toward the maiden's bosom sped
The feathered cloth-yard dart.
Sebastian stepped between and caught
The arrow in his heart.
The maiden caught Sebastian
And fell with him to the ground
A moment later Bubba joined,
His flight again he'd found.
A silent grief washed through,
Was it a moment or a day?
Til maiden sobs and hamster wails
Could not be held at bay.
The maiden's voice broke through the tears,
"I have a tale for you.
And then dear beast," She looked up,
"A task I pray you'll do."
"My name is Joan, I'm known as John,
Because I'm Pope you see.
Some Bishops learned my secret
And are out to murder me."
"Because I am a woman
They sent that band of men
And I would now be dead
If not for you and your friend."
"And tis your friend, dear beast,
That now concerns me so!
Sometimes when Death comes swiftly
Souls don't know just where to go."
"That's where you come in --
You guard and guide now living souls.
The dead need guides and guardians
If you wish t'expand your roles."
"Even as the Pope I can do
Only so much good.
The rest is up to you, my friend,
Bubba of Wyewood!"
Surprise flickered 'cross Bubba's face.
How did she know his name?
"You could be no other.
Even Rome has known your fame."
"And like the heav'nly host we sometimes
Call the Seraphim
You will be an angel too
My dear Hamsteraphim."
"So will you do this thing I ask?
Please tell me yes, I pray.
If this errand you perform
I'll saint you on this day."
Bubba needn't even think
But nodded his consent.
He wanted just to help his friend
No matter what that meant.
Pope Joan touched him on the head.
The world began to spin.
And when it stopped no one was there
But he and Sebastian.
"Oh what happened Bubba?
Where has every one gone?
Thanks for sticking with me,
I guess I owe you one."
This wood is unfamiliar,
Do you know which way to go?
We'd best be heading homeward,
It's getting late you know."
Bubba flew up purring,
Took Sebastian by the hand.
Somehow he found he knew his way
Through this strange, foreign land.
And thus they passed quite safely
Through the otherworld until
Sebastian stopped and shivered.
Up his back there ran a chill.
"This place looks so familiar.
It's like home." He hesitates,
"I don't remember Wyewood
Having such big, pearly gates."
Sebastian safe, Bubba returns
To Wyewood and his kin
To guide and guard the living
Til the dead need him again.
So Bubba flies between the worlds,
Now this one, sometimes that,
Guiding souls beyond the veil
Like a little, angel bat.
Since Bubba last had flown.
So outside of his legends
Little else was known.
But one tale yet remains intact
Untainted by hear-say
That tells of how our hamster kin
Was sainted one fine day.
No cloud was overhead that day
To hint at what would pass.
No bluer could the sky have been,
No greener could be grass.
His rounds complete and Wyewood safe
Bubba's mind turned toward fun,
His impish grin betrayed thoughts
Of a Wyewood wayward son.
Southward flew our hamster
In good time without a stop
Until he perched outside of
Lord Sebastian 's weapon shop.
He wondered should he knock,
Or surprise him and sneak in.
Answered was his question before
He could think it once again.
A figure shot right past him
Slapping Bubba on the wing,
Laughing, "Tag you're it! That is,
If it you fair can bring!"
Bubba paused a moment,
But the blinking of an eye,
An eye that went a-twinkle
'Midst a hamster battle cry!
Gleefully sped Bubba
Into a grove of hazelnut
Where he caught Sebastian up
And he bit him on the ankle.
The squire yelped out loud
More from surprise than any pain,
Falling in a heap
So our dear hamster pounced again.
Thus twas the day well spent
Between these two companions boon
Racing, wrestling, laughing
Until late that afternoon.
And just when Lord Sebastian felt
They should be turning 'round
A scream erupted from nearby
Their hearts froze at the sound
Twas but a moment that they paused
Before they were off again
Rushing not away from harm
But toward the growing din
When the duo broke from the trees,
Onto a scene they burst
That caused Bubba to growl out loud.
Lord Sebastian cursed.
A lone maiden at center stood
Her hair cropped like a man
Her guards all lay dead on the ground
Before a roguish band
"What say we even odds my friend?"
Sebastian's sword was drawn
And waiting not for a reply
He met the horde head on
Much destruction smote his sword
And much by hamster claw.
Those who still stood upright
Could do nothing but withdraw.
When satisfied the rogues had fled
Sebastian turned to face
The maid who hadn't moved an inch
And stood stalwart in place.
A certain strength shown in her stance,
Regal, proud, and wise
And yet a vuln'rability
Flickered in her eyes
Bubba flew and broke the spell
Landing in her arms
The maiden looked down at him
And giggled at his charms.
She looked back at Sebastian
As if about to speak
The spell again was broken,
This time by a hamster squeak.
Of the roguish band the two
Had made quite quick work
But neither'd seen the archer
Who in the woods did lurk.
But Bubba's ear detected
the bowstring being drawn
Before Sebastian knew it,
The hamster was just gone.
Bubba sped into the trees
To try to head off fate
But when he heard the bowstring twang
He knew he was too late.
The arrow bore down on him
His destiny seemed sealed
But never one to give up hope
The hamster spun and reeled
Once again through luck and skill
Bubba dodged Death's cold sting
But Death took consolation
The shaft grazed Bubba's wing
Bubba fell then earthward
For the moment void of flight
The roars that issued from him
Made the archer jump with fright.
The archer ran off screaming
Fearing he had paid the toll
And Bubba was a demon coming
Now to eat his soul.
Had Bubba had his flight then
Just like lightning he would fly
And pluck the arrow from the air
So no one else need die.
Toward the maiden's bosom sped
The feathered cloth-yard dart.
Sebastian stepped between and caught
The arrow in his heart.
The maiden caught Sebastian
And fell with him to the ground
A moment later Bubba joined,
His flight again he'd found.
A silent grief washed through,
Was it a moment or a day?
Til maiden sobs and hamster wails
Could not be held at bay.
The maiden's voice broke through the tears,
"I have a tale for you.
And then dear beast," She looked up,
"A task I pray you'll do."
"My name is Joan, I'm known as John,
Because I'm Pope you see.
Some Bishops learned my secret
And are out to murder me."
"Because I am a woman
They sent that band of men
And I would now be dead
If not for you and your friend."
"And tis your friend, dear beast,
That now concerns me so!
Sometimes when Death comes swiftly
Souls don't know just where to go."
"That's where you come in --
You guard and guide now living souls.
The dead need guides and guardians
If you wish t'expand your roles."
"Even as the Pope I can do
Only so much good.
The rest is up to you, my friend,
Bubba of Wyewood!"
Surprise flickered 'cross Bubba's face.
How did she know his name?
"You could be no other.
Even Rome has known your fame."
"And like the heav'nly host we sometimes
Call the Seraphim
You will be an angel too
My dear Hamsteraphim."
"So will you do this thing I ask?
Please tell me yes, I pray.
If this errand you perform
I'll saint you on this day."
Bubba needn't even think
But nodded his consent.
He wanted just to help his friend
No matter what that meant.
Pope Joan touched him on the head.
The world began to spin.
And when it stopped no one was there
But he and Sebastian.
"Oh what happened Bubba?
Where has every one gone?
Thanks for sticking with me,
I guess I owe you one."
This wood is unfamiliar,
Do you know which way to go?
We'd best be heading homeward,
It's getting late you know."
Bubba flew up purring,
Took Sebastian by the hand.
Somehow he found he knew his way
Through this strange, foreign land.
And thus they passed quite safely
Through the otherworld until
Sebastian stopped and shivered.
Up his back there ran a chill.
"This place looks so familiar.
It's like home." He hesitates,
"I don't remember Wyewood
Having such big, pearly gates."
Sebastian safe, Bubba returns
To Wyewood and his kin
To guide and guard the living
Til the dead need him again.
So Bubba flies between the worlds,
Now this one, sometimes that,
Guiding souls beyond the veil
Like a little, angel bat.
