The Pied Piper (for my Big Sister, Terri)

photo: tvtropes.org


The Pied Piper of Hamelin

My sister, Terri (also known as Angela)
Played once – The Pied Piper
Being the oldest she didn’t play much
(She was my mother’s crutch)
The Tale set in Hamelin, Germany
on the stage in our lives when big sisters left
(Nine children ~ one less)
Off to college ~ a school called Knapp
Sharing her chores now in our lap,
Kathys’ and mine ~ number 2 and 3 of 9
As the story went. . .
Hamelin was infested with rats
The children in danger
’til along came a stranger ~
a Piper, pied*
claiming to be a Rat Catcher
offered to keep the children alive,
and the townspeople happily there after
I’ll rid the rats for a sum of gold…
as the story is told
Following his musical pipe to the river ~
they drowned
The people rejoiced in Hamelin town,
until something awful went down. . .
He kept his promise ~ the children unscathed
but the Piper did not get paid
Seeking revenge - now dressed in green,
(Camouflaged to not be seen)
he posed as a hunter luring away. . .
the
children
to
a
cave
Only three were saved
One blind
One deaf
One lame
(The children who couldn’t follow)
Terri leaving was hard to swallow
I missed her when she left
Nine children – one less

I love you, Terri

Linda

* Pied: of two or more colors in blotches

Linda (paying the Piper)