bluthgelt's sayings

the village: iv: 

bluthgelt's sayings: i.

the taxman he thinks

that he's a big star like Death

with everyone fearing

his cold smelly breath

his ledger a scythe

his work one of taking

one could almost forgive him

for the mistake he is making

when out by the barn

he goes to my goldpile

and finds just a hole now

and a hand to help lie down

and a stone for a pillow

on top of his head:

Death vs. Taxes:

Taxman lies Dead.

ii:  bluthgelt was the baker:

     bluthgelt was a man

     now he lives Outside us

     as a killer of a man.

     still he does some service

     the Elder Council knows

     there are always some need killing :

     so they keep a killer dog close

     and when he spends his namesake

     at the tavern or the fair:

    no-one knows his name:

            to us he isn't there

iii

for he wears a Council token

of freedom and despair:

a coin of gold

        a red cross

             twisted in his beard.

held there by a ribbon

of nanometric steel:

'twill grow now with his beard hair,

   his madness

   and his fear

as he crouches in his rude hut

just outside the Ways

 waiting for the signal

 the Council sometimes makes

counting up his gold

           taxless, he is rich

         alone amongst the robins

       he yearns for a cold ditch

            to pitch his pale form into

            to strangle and to twitch

: but his heart it still beats strongly

there will be more years of this

           this lesson to the others

           that bluthgelt failed to learn:

           kill not of your neighbours

           or 

                forever

                              burn.

2009 Peter Greene.