Not a Sou
In my role as storyteller,
I present for you a story.
It will cost you little effort
And begs not a sou for the trouble.
This story asks no more of you
Than your undivided attention.
A minute? An hour? An eternity?
How long can I engage you?
I’ll take you to a place that is no more
And to a time that has slipped away
Through many fingers
And is lost on this sandy beach.
You cannot see it with your eyes.
Your eyes are just distractions,
A reference to things that are no more,
Brushes and palette to colour the blanks.
I want to slip you into this story
With the ease of a broken-in shoe.
I want you to be comfortable here
You won’t even notice the transition.
The story may be this or that,
To see what choice was yours.
Whatever strikes my fancy.
The light I cast on this or that
Is all that I can offer.
I may lead or I may follow.
This choice is always mine.
I look ahead and look behind
You and I are on a journey
And I have a destination in my mind.
If you follow, I will lead
To where I think I’m going.
And if you lead, I’ll do my best to follow
And I will offer up a single sou
In the hope of seeing you there
Where we may meet again
For the price of a single sou.