8/5/2004

I
met the troll
by accident
or
so it seemed
at the time
and though surprised
to see
he was wearing
gold rimmed glasses
an anomaly
that ameliorated
his repugnance
his friendship was
even more unexpected
but
his thick skin
a genetic blessing
made it possible
for him to tell me
unorthodox things
about survival
and prosperity
without distress
when
I initially recoiled
his failure to charm
soon giving way to
the gift of candor
my appeal for him
that of
the receptive student
a troll rarely gets.