He said something strange
But also quite wise
'Listen closely now'
The sage advised

And from his tongue
Came a whisper
His lips still wet
From the liquor

His voice was coarse
And his words were few
But the more he spoke
Was the more I knew

I couldn't look away
I felt like I knew him
So I asked, but he said
I was no one to him

He said he traveled
A great distance
And he's nearing the end
Of his sad existence

'You're in luck
I have a fortune for you
For one gold coin,
I will continue'

I heard this
And suddenly knew
He was a liar
And a swindler too

I was not surprised
Another fake mystic
Shilling words for coin
Can't believe I had missed it

I turned to leave
But he snatched my arm
'Don't let the devil
Give you this scar!'

I looked at his face
And saw on his cheek
In the shape of a six
A burn quite deep

I stole my arm
And went on my way
Coins intact
Going about my day

When I saw a shepherd
Branding his sheep
A strange thing to do
In a city street

I passed him
And went on my way
Until he called to me
By my very name

He offered me a sheep
For the price of only six
So I took his offer,
Unaware of his tricks

Lifting his branding iron
He printed me a number
It burned me deeply
And hotter than the Summer

'A coin a day
Then you'll survive
Learn to be good
And you'll stay alive!'

As I ran, I tripped
But he didn't give chase
In a small puddle
I saw my own face

Mine was the same face
The same as the sage
Just freshly burned
And younger in age

So now I beg
And I cry and plead
For that single gold coin
To give to the devil I feed

© Smellen D'generes