The Nimith by Len Collett and Charlie Smith
Look over there! Long wavy fins. Oily green hair and a big round chin.
Dimples and spikes on green scaly skin. Wide open eyes. It's the Nimith.
The duck paddled by without turning his bill. The frog sat on his lilypad, king of the hill.
In the dark and the cold of the December chill the Nimith saw the river creatures and the Nimith stayed still.
For when he sees them and they see him too, they shout
'You're a freak!'
'Your fins are weak!'
'We're too cool for you!'
Now from the bottom of the river, the top's just like a mirror, and when he looked up he thought What if it's all true?
So as the rain poured thicker and the river swelled bigger he skulked around the bed and that thought grew.
The water rose to record heights, it flowed so fast and strong and far
It flooded the valley in the dead of night and picked up bins and cows and cars.
Now in the morning once the water settled, The Nimith appeared on a flooded street,
Amongst the bins and clothes and kettles, swimming past some human feet.
'The town is ruined', said one human.
'We'll fix it', said another.
'Reckon we can lift that bus from its side?'
'Maybe but I doubt it.'
...
...
The Nimith waited for an insult. He waited for a slap.
And when he heard nothing he thought 'Oooo! I want a piece of that.'
But in a passing washing machine his image was reflected,
So he swam inside to hide and cry, amongst the wires, dejected.
Everything was quiet. The Nimith was asleep.
He dreamed of having a body that had human hands and feet.
He dreamed of people clapping him, saying 'we' not 'me and you',
And when the morning woke him up he knew what he must do.
The water was calm, the wind was low and the humans were asleep.
He opened the door and stuck out a fin to see what he could reach.
Floating by were pipes and wires that he used for arms and hands,
And for the legs beneath his body, he fished out some pots and pans.
When the humans woke they found a washing machine robot in their town
And where they looked to a see a head they found The Nimith on top instead.
He opened up his arms to say 'hello!' but still they ran away
For they'd never seen a robot sea creature, at least not until this day
The Nimith waded through the streets alone, his clunking legs the only noise
He kicked a tyre and a traffic cone so hard it landed in Mytholmroyd.
But three young humans from the town were not so scared and stuck around to watch.
The Nimith's head was down, but from behind he heard them shout 'Hey robot!'
He didn't speak. They tried again. 'Hey you! You're huge!
Your shoes are massive and your arms are too! Hey you!
We've tried all day and night but we can't lift this broken bus.
You look strong and you look kind. Could you pleeease try to help us?'
The bus had fallen on its side and hard as The Nimith tried
He could not lift it.
Still he heaved and pushed and wrenched with his mechanical arms, their insides drenched,
And seeing a crowd now gathered he felt it move. A bit.
One by one the town came down and saw he could not lift it.
One by one they lent a hand and said 'Here- I'll help you shift it.'
As the the sun cut through the weather a smile grew on his face,
But his robot body could not take the weight.
As they lifted the bus together some screws sprang out their place
And the whole town heard his battered body break.
The humans were so grateful. The Nimith knew not what to do
When they crowded round and asked him, 'How can we help you?'
The Nimith thought for a moment. What could they do for him?
He had wanted more than anything to have slicked back hair and smooth gold skin.
But now he had grown a robot body. He had helped a town that needed cleaning.
He didn't care about scales or fins because they smiled when they looked at him.
So he said nothing.
Then ready to clear the mess and the junk they all ran off in one long line
But with a crack and a split and a crunch and a clunk the worn out Nimith was left behind.
Alone again, The Nimith began to shiver. He sat on a rock right next to the river.
Somewhere close he heard humans play but even closer was the water's mirror.
Slowly the noise of the humans grew until he heard 'Hey robot! We need you!'
At this he turned his drooping head. 'But look at me. I'm ruined' he said.
'I'm a joke. Old junk. I can't help you anymore.'
But they smiled and told him 'Help isn't what we came for.'
So shoulders sagging the Nimith followed down quiet streets and silent roads.
Til in the distance he saw costumes, worn by humans young and old,
Giants loomed, dressed in ribbon. Humans danced as music played
And when he arrived they told the Nimith 'We are The Handmade Parade'
There were submarines and horses that galloped ten feet tall.
There were flaming birds and trees with purple fruit.
But it was just ahead that the Nimith saw, in the middle of it all
A brand new robot suit.
And with his washing machine spinning and his eyes locked straight ahead,
The Nimith danced, transformed, until the day was dead.
Puppets of The Nimith will be appearing at the Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade on Sunday 26th June 2016. Head over to www.handmadeparade.co.uk for more details.
