A Night ‘Round The Fire

last night the reaper dropped by for a chat.
we talked for hours
and laughed at the past.
the reaper reminded me of all the times
I had tempted him,
teased him,
then ran away.
those stories told, the reaper took a moment to explain
I had not escaped,
he had let me go.

silence settled upon us.
shivering shadows are
candle cast by
flickering flame.
gazing into the dancing brightness
I contemplate my next escape from the syth
and the limits of my
favor in the reaper’s eyes.

he shakes my hand and fades into my future.
I feel the moisture on my palm
and wipe it on my pants.
I blow out the candle,
not wanting to see what’s next.
copyright Skippy / Adrian Smith -- 2000
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