In the Next Life, Canto III, stanzas 97-103

So by the time that Darna came along,
old Seven Six’s load was pretty light.
While reason told her that was nothing wrong,
she’d known for quite some time it wasn’t right.

When she and Engadin began to fret,
there wasn’t much that medicine could do.
Though Abraham and Sarah could beget,
this time around no miracle came through.

Now, Ciral, as I said, was unaware
of who she was and how she got that way.
The poor kid must have gotten quite a scare
when he was told that he would have to stay.

Wait, wasn’t this his dream at last come true?
Was this not where he’d wanted to reside?
Well sure, he would have felt a thrill run through
if he had been the one who could decide.

His plan, such as it was, meant taking charge.
That wasn’t where he would be for a while.
In fact, he’d less than likely be at large.
To be a prisoner was not his style.

And so, as soon as Ciral saw a gap
in Darna’s vigilance, he gave the slip.
He didn’t know that it would be a slap.
He didn’t think of it as jumping ship.

’Twas dark when he effected his escape.
He wasn’t sure how long ’til day would break.
If he ran, he was sure to get a scrape.
To wait there with the rats—which would you take?

Abraham and Sarah: Genesis 21:2

©2010 Louis A. Merrimac