The Land of Hugs

Note to the reader: the word, Ejyers, is pronounced as ayers, airs or heirs.

I, a weary traveller,
Travel a harden sod,
Through forest and field I came,
Battling the thickest fog.

I happened upon a kingdom,
Not charted on any map,
Thinking in good reason,
That I should turn back.

Wisdom says "be safe"!
"Challenge not the unknown!"
Yet a feeling came upon me,
That this could be a home.

A yearning pushed me on,
To seek what wasn't there,
A feeling of love and hope,
Instead a feeling of despair.

I moved on toward the border,
Of this curious little kingdom,
The village outside the castle walls,
Hearkens me to come.

The people of the village reached me, Sooner than expected,
A group of ten approached me,
I knew not what they wanted,

A man thus stepped forward,
A woman right beside,
I then looked around me,
There was no place to hide.

All of a sudden they grabbed me,
And gave me a great big hug,
He patted me on the shoulder,
She, with a look of glee,

He: "By the order of the queen!"
"Any stranger from afar,"
She: "And bearing them no arms,"
"Be given the biggest of our hugs."

She: "We welcome you, dear stranger,"
Said the woman with golden hair,
"With all the friendliness we can muster,"
"To our kingdom we call Ejyers".

They led me to the village,
And then to a small Inn,
They gave me food and drink,
And new clothes, they gave, with a grin.

She: "The Queen will want to meet you,"
"But we must give her your name,"
Me: "I came from a place far away,
It was there I was Grant the Plain."

"Rest here tonight, dear Grant,"
Said the woman with golden hair,
"On the morn, you will meet our queen,
The Queen of Hugs, known far and near."

"The Queen of Hugs?"
"'I've heard of her before",
"Thinking she was part of legend,
"Or part of some lost lore."

"No Grant, she's as real as can be,"
"And her hugs will warm the soul,"
"If she, you then receive,"
"Her heart you will get to know."

When morning came, I received my summons,
To the queens court, I received my instructions,
A coach arrived to deliver me forthwith,
Anxious, I knew not what to expect.

To the castle, the coach arrived,
Quickly, I was ushered in,
An exciting journey twas not deprived,
Onward to meet the queen.

Standing in the Great Hall,
Her throne at the other end,
There were displays all around me,
Of Jade! My favorite gem.

Then suddenly the sound of music!
Its rapture was everywhere,
The sound of birds singing,
Also, filled the air.

Puppy dogs and kittens,
All were roaming free,
The Queen herself then appeared,
In all her majesty.

I stood astounded,
My senses could not rejoin,
Her beauty overwhelming,
A stirring in my loins.

The queen then guided me to a room,
Where we could be alone,
She said to me, "Well dear stranger,
What has brought you to my home?"

I said "Your highness,
"I came to you by chance,"
But, with your permission,
my name is Grant.

"The Queen said, "dear Grant,
I sense that you are honorable kind and sweet,
For your reward and for evermore,
I give you an everlasting hug."

Then a light so bright that came from her,
Its brilliance none other will compare,
I go forth to join the light,
I am not deterred.

Her light, it surrounds me,
It enraptures me through and through,
A warmth I feel in my soul,
Her love so pure and true.

Then suddenly, before I knew,
The light had left me,
The warm feeling, it did stay,
and grew and grew and grew.

"Grant," she said,
"I have given you a great gift,"
"An everlasting hug,"
"Which does not take or receive but only gives."

Then the queen, my queen,
Leaned in for this,
My body warm and ready,
Waiting to receive her kiss.

Her lips were so soft,
Her touch gave me tingles,
My body craved her flesh,
Our flesh, though, would not mingle.

"Grant," said my new queen,
"I must charge you to leave my Ejyers,"
"To spread love and hugs,"
"This you must swear."

"From this point forward,"
"You are Grant the Great,"
"Moving through the land,"
"Sharing love, your new fate."

And so I did,
For my queen,
Sharing her love,
No greater can be seen.

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