A Sweaty Day

 Up the airy mountain,

Down the rushy glen,

We daren’t go a-hunting,

For fear of little men.

Wee folk, good folk,

Trooping all together,

Green Jacket, red cap,

And white owl’s feather.

William Allingham. 1824–1889

Up the airy mountain

Down the rushy glen

We daren't go a-hunting
For fear of little men

This little man was quite lovely in his green striped jacket, although he did give me a start when I almost stepped on him, and I gave him quite a start in turn. As he slithered into the bushes, Samos was able to take a photo of his green jacket, but not his little face.  It was a remarkably dainty face, I was surprised to note as we stared at one another for a few brief seconds before he disappeared altogether into his leafy lair.

And where did we meet him?  Samos and I took a hike up Tiger Mountain yesterday.  I had wanted to do this for years, but hadn’t the initiative, and also, I didn’t quite know where Tiger Mountain is.  That was not a very good excuse as its base is about a fifteen minute drive from my house.  Samos, however, took the initiative, and also knew where it is and how to drive there, so --- all problems – solved!  Up we went.  It was a ton of fun, although the trek up to the top was a bit of a toil.  We kept meeting frisky folk descending the mountain, and were rather resentful of their seeming liveliness, but on the way down, we too had jolly smiles for the sweating folk struggling up.

Wee folk, good folk,

Trooping all togeher

Green jacket,

Red cap,

White owl's feather

Thanks to Samos for sharing his photos.