The Paradigm of Evil
The sun dips low beneath the hills,
A day has ended and a new one will
Be arriving very soon,
But for now the sky grows ever darker,
The moon in its orbit begins to sparkle,
And the stars twinkle their timeless tune.
A dark, imposing specter waits,
Lifts the pipe to his lips and hooks his bait,
Glinting in the light of the moon.
He blows and makes a sound so pure,
Whose purpose is but only to lure
Rats and children to the tempting tune.
The air rings with the melody's sound,
It echoes to the sky and into the ground.
The rats, rodents and raccoons'
Ears are filled with the euphonious voice,
And they're so enthralled that they have no choice
But to follow the alluring tune.
The little feet echo "pitter patter"
And the villagers look to see what's the matter,
And there is the scampering platoon.
The innocent children watch in awe
At whatever it is that seems to draw
The rats to that soothing tune.
The young ones start to follow suit
As if those notes of the wooden flute
Were playing an ancient rune.
Some feel a sense of wonder
Or protection as their ears fill with thunder
Of the piper's glorious tune.
They march past mounds and epitaphs,
Littering candy wrappers on the path.
Exhausted youth threaten to swoon
But one among them starts to play
A horn, the others dance and sway
Revived by the contagious tune.
"It's just a phase," the adults say,
And kick their feet back, waiting for day,
Oblivious to impending doom.
The children all join in the song,
Attracting new members to the throng,
United by the bonding tune.
The group eventually withers away,
The memories fade to yesterday,
Lost to all but the moon.
One day a new phantom arises,
Takes out a pipe and starts to chime his
Relentlessly immortal tune.
And the stars are ever watching.