The Gatherer of Souls

THE GATHERER OF SOULS

High atop a forlorn mountain
Along a path of jagged twist and turns
A faint light dances upon the cave’s entrance
From a single candle that burns

A man of many ages
Bearded and not quite whole
Travels up the daunting path
In his hand a forgotten soul

Step by step he falters
Braced only by a knotted limb
Persistent in his journey
Seeking shelter from within

Marching ever forward
He battles the elements at hand
Reaching the cave’s protection
Ready for the book’s command

The single candle burned
Upon a table older than he
He sat the soul on the pedestal
Then bowed upon his knee

Standing after several moments
From a shelf he pulled a dusted book
Turning from page to page
He trembled and he shook

From within the mighty volume
He finally found his page
He once again grasped the soul
And lit a sprig of sage

Chanting through the smoke
The soul glowed deathly bright
And with a final incantation
The soul flew off in the night

Exhausted from his service
Spent, the man went down
But as was his duty
He pulled himself from the ground

With a final glance at the fleeing soul
He closed the dusted tome
He wished the soul God’s speed
In finding it’s eternal home

Then once again he left
To journey down below
His burden once again
To find another lost soul

Down the path he traveled
Supported by the knotted limb
Ever cursing the dreadful penance
That had been forsaken to him