The Innkeeper

Submitted by Taylor on Fri, 11/18/2011 - 22:12

it was not
enough
that rent was free in my inn
for you to stop
and stay with me

so i ran
out into the street
waving my arms frantically
as you passed by
chasing another
as desperately as i chased you

my dreams
i burned on your alters
my future
i offered up on your shrines

but you never came
so i spoke to you
as a rain cloud speaks
to the desert,
pouring myself into the sand
but my heart found
no oasis
there

you took every drop
and gave nothing back
though i gave you a mouth
you never sang to me
eyes, but you always
were blind to me,
hands i made,
but you would not hold me
feet, too, but you never
stepped in my direction.

when i ran out of dreams,
i gave you my spirit and soul
it was never enough

so i ground you
into a million pieces
and cast you into the sea
but still you were dust
bitter to my tongue
every taste
more thirsty
than the last

i slept in a tomb
filled with the dust of these idols,
old prayers, and rites
and the rivers of my tears
became white with dust
on my face

and i wept
because you could not love me
because you were wood and stone
my sorrow echoed
in the labrynth of my solitude
until I passed away

when it was finished
and my tears were all spent
still i heard weeping
and a voice
whispering in the dark,
"forgive them,
they know not what they do"

before i knew it,
he was there
the Innkeeper,
waving his arms
frantically as i passed away
he spoke to me as water
to a thirsty man, and i took every drop,
as he sang over me,
eyes fixed on mine,
hands holding me,
dancing for joy
like a child
who has found
a lost coin

Author's age when written
22
Genre