Unlit Betrayal

At the top
Is the water source
So pure

The priest takes
A bottle full
Puts a stopper in

In the valley
The church of
Bottled water

Dispenses
Drop by drop
Meager blessings

Wondering why
The children
Are missing

Is it that they know
Water falls
In a cascade

A torrent
For everyone
In the valley

And the river’s
Been pissed in
By the Mayor?

Who reneged
Cheated
The Pied Piper

The flute now
Lures the children
To be lost

Under a mountain of
Indebted
Hopelessness

Rats return
Gnawing the candle
Of their dreams

But every child
Dares to light
That candle

They do it
Behind their
Parents’ backs

Placing it in a holder
Sincerely
Wishing for flame

Hopeful
That the flickering light
Will make them sacred

They doubt it
Their snuffing fingers
Warm wax rubbing

Worried they’ll
Be revealed by
Tainting scent

The candle now unlit
Irresolute, they chance
No accidental fire

But will you
Give them
A match?

It is said that in 1284 the Pied Piper of Hamelin was retained to get rid of the rats and drowned them all. Then the Mayor reneged on the bill and the Pied Piper lured away all but three of the town’s children.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied_Piper_of_Hamelin

The Candle Trilogy: Unlit Betrayal | Lit Faithfulness | Faithful Betrayal – Holy Fire

(c) Jamie Coats         February 2016