After Hamelin

After Hamelin

Ava Pardue

Every widow and barren one will stand
At the opening of the mountain gate
As the rumble of children’s feet echoes
And a pipe’s melody rises on the wind.

He crests the hill, leading every orphan,
Miscarried, aborted, abandoned
Piper pied with nail piercings and playing
This song of peace and ploughshares.

So suddenly these women are mothers
Lost children sons and daughters
She pushes through, spots young brown eyes
That echo back her own.

“Who has borne me these?” she whispers
Woman barren her long lonely life
They are laughing and racing to kiss her
In the crowd, they know her name.

She meets the Piper’s winking eyes
And laughter breaches her throat
She cannot see for tears, for there are
So many children they fill the mountain place.

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Ava Pardue
Poet & Student

Ava is a novice poet currently living in Manila, Philippines. Although this is her first publication, she has contributed poetry in a number of ways to her community over the years. Her writing focuses on themes of hope and victory over darkness.

Photography by Andres Dress