Black robes a flutter
Black robes aflutter in the autumn breeze…
As I ride betwixt the ancient trees...
Thanatos; "I come for thee, mortal man…
Oh please... try to outrun me… if you can…
But woe, for I know thost can not, for none
Ever escape. I do enjoy the fun…"
Upon a blood chilling night I find him…
Celebrating with kin, by hearth and trim…
A wedding feast I've surmised… for his son…
I wait until the wedding feast is done…
As I approach the man, he looks at me
With terror in his eyes… he implores me
Not to take him yet… he offers me gold,
Silver, and jewels, none of these I hold
With any import… "enough games" I say,
"There's only one thing with which you can pay…"
He begs and pleads with me, buying time, I
Would think, 'tis only natural to try…
I lower my hood, with skeletal grin…
The room went silent; one could hear a pin...
He runs out the door, I leave without trace...
I give him time; I enjoy a good chase…
I get on my horse, with my scythe in hand…
I look for his trail, he runs through the land…
Giving him an hour, possibly two…
I'll give him hope, before I take that too…
I say to myself, "Enough games, 'tis time."
And I ride down the trail, to take what is mine…
I call forth hellhounds, they take up his trail…
I look at the time, I refuse to fail...
The night goes on; I grow tired of the chase…
I see him far off; I set a new pace...
The dogs are howling; they can sense his fear…
I chase him down, and take what is dear…
He lies there on the ground, dead to the touch…
For now what is mine, is within my clutch…
I come upon a small girl, nought but four…
She is asleep, but shaking to her core…
Her lips are blue, her small face a pale white…
Her breath is showing in the pale moonlight…
I take her in my arms with tender care…
I think 'life is cruel, and it's never fair…'
So innocent, untainted, guiltless and pure…
Elysium would fit her well I'm sure…
So I hoist the girl up in front of me
With practiced ease; for many, like she
Have ridden with me many times before...
'Tis a mercy; of that thoust can be sure...
To be taken to eternal paradise…
Than to deal with this world's heart of ice…
I ride on... her sitting in front of me…
Through streams, over mountains, dodging trees…
On to the river acheron I ride
Posthaste… For Charon's barge goes with the tide…
I arrive, with merely seconds to spare…
I nod towards charon as I pay her fare…
From Acheron, through the stygian marsh…
Gates of tartarus I find rather harsh
As we pass by across the phlegethon…
Through the depths of Tartarus it flows on…
The waters of the cocytus black as night…
Souls wailing their sorrows and starting with fright
As they look upon my spectral form…
The little girl still trying to get warm…
Through the fields of asphodel we travel…
Soon on a road of volcanic gravel...
Shades walk aimlessly across each field…
As they walk up the path, only to yield
For my massive horse as we gallop past…
To Lord Hades' palace we come at last…
Finally warm, the young girl awoke…
She looked at me and asked to whom she spoke…
I'm simply a friend was my swift reply…
She looked at me with a curious eye…
Not a word more was spoken as we
Entered persephone's gardens; with tree
And fountain abundant with fruit and wine…
"Lord Hades, I bring his greatness two fine
Souls to adjudicate… I only ask
You take the girl, I return to my task…