Pay the Piper

The rats came scrambling out of stables,

From babies’ cribs, from under tables,

Drawn by lure of Piper’s tune.

Three notes enticing them to ruin.

Filled red-eyed ratty heads with visions;

Butter barrels, vast provisions

To vermin, as to us our gold.

Or so lone rat survivor told.

To the river wove the throng,

Plunged in, drowned, to Piper’s song.

The Townsfolk cheered, burned up the nests,

Embraced sweet babies to their breasts.

With the town now free of vermin

Out stepped fat Mayor dressed in ermine.

Unlocked his gates and breathed relief,

For he was coward as well as thief.

A thousand guilders he had pledged

But now on Piper’s due he hedged.

Though in his chambers he had cowered,

With rat plague gone, he felt empowered.

For the magic that transpired

From the man that he had hired,

Offered fifty guilders as the wage

Thus, through his hubris set the stage.

Piper blew three notes once more,

Brought town’s children to the fore

Tumbling out of doors and streets;

Dreaming of Edenic treats.

The townsfolk were all stunned in wonder

As their progeny were led asunder

The Piper’s tune left town bereft,

But there was one crippled child left       

Too slow to follow up the hill,

Left behind against his will

As a magic portal opened wide

Then sealed the children deep inside.

In a voice so filled with sorrow,

He said they’d seen a great tomorrow;

A country that contained no strife.

Really, a much better life.

Too late the Mayor realized,

This treasure lost was one most prized.

Rued the fact he’d had the gall

To whittle down the price at all

.

He sent out many desperate offers

Proffering gold of corporate coffers.

But no one found the gypsy fellow,

Garbed in brightest red and yellow.

It was a painful lesson learned.

The children, lost, were not returned.

Through silent streets the townsfolk walked

And if listlessly they even talked,

It was about the deal gone sour

With consequences truly dour.

Pay the Piper what he’s due

A decision you won’t live to rue.

© Grapher March 2013