...'Cross the hills to God knows where
The piper pranced, a leadin'
Each child in Hamlin Town but me,
And I stayed home unheedin'.
My papa says that I was blest
For if that music found me,
I'd be witch-cast like all the rest.
This town grows old around me.
I cannot say I did not hear
That sound so haunting hollow --
I heard, I heard, I heard it clear...
I was afraid to follow.
(Shel Silverstein, "The One Who Stayed")
Illustration from The Pied Piper of Hamelin, by Robert Browning
1888, illustrator Kate Greenaway
from Project Gutenburg
4 comments:
So beautiful. Words and picture.
You know, I have our old copy of the version that picture was taken from. It's a little worse for wear, what with the chew marks and the crayons. That story fascinates me, because Hamelin did, evidently, have an exodus of children back in the way back.
I know. Isn't that strange?
Yes! The current main theory is that they were all recruited to go settle areas in Poland.
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