Death of Sprites

The sun rose

on cold Autumn day

surprising busy sprites

Their ugly faces

and mischievous glances

belied their devilish delights

For they did not trick

nor steal, nor tamper

but wrongs they put to right

Targeted by evil fairies

caught one by one in traps

the world grew more polluted as they died

wonder and imagination

corrupted by tests and logic

fled the children’s minds

As adults they grew

less curious and less educated

Thus doomed themselves to vice