Author's note: This is a poem about Oberon from A Midsummer Night's Dream, which does not belong to me, but to the wonderful Mr. William Shakespeare. Some productions make Oberon really nice...and I don't think he really is. Perhaps he's not as dark and scary as I made him in this poem, but the darkness is definitely there (and I have seen some wonderful productions where it is). The line "'Tis almost fairy time" is a quote from the play (by Theseus). The poem is halfway to iambic pentameter...the lines are all ten syllables long, but they don't follow the pattern.

You will see no glittering fairy dust,
Hear no sweet songs of rainbows and dewdrops.
His hair is not pure and white and shining,
And innocence has no place in his heart.
On his back there are no butterfly wings,
Brightly colored and lovely and friendly.
His eyes don't twinkle when they look on you,
And his laughter does not ring merrily.
There are no pointed shoes upon his feet.
There are no pointed ears upon his head.

There is only Oberon, fairy king.
Tall, dark, fire and lightning in his eyes.
His voice angry and rumbling like thunder.
He smells of sweat and dirt and old, old sin,
The madness of ten thousand years in him,
And this jealous Oberon stalks the night.

Put your children to bed and lock your doors,
Leave little offerings on your doorstep
And pray mightily for your protection.
Tonight he storms and rages through the world.
If you're lucky, you will wake in the morn.
Now, go to bed… ''Tis almost fairy time.'