He Who Leaps the Flames.

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Traveler take heed
to these chilling refrains,
of unhallowed deeds,
an' fell spirits arcane.


Few dare recall, nor tell what transpired that day
when the sun took to the hills an' twilight had came.
Crickets went silent an' clouds hid the moon away,
the very moment our fathers spoke his name.

"Brethren, nigh comes the time to heed the olden ways,
to revoke the false doctrines and renew our claim."
Without another word the great pyres lit ablaze.
"We call upon you, Spirit! He who leaps the flame!"

Boughs of hued fire wound about a sprightly shape.
Boots chin-high, wide blackened eyes, teeth broken an' stained,
shifty smiles stretching across his worn shadowed face...
Spinning, dancing, twirling....leaning upon his cane.

Though it seemed this mirth was ill wrought an' thus he spake:
"What has it been?! What it could be?! This must be a prank!
You shame the gods! You cross your words! You witless snakes!
What a farce! What fools! What a desperate mistake!"

Bounding towers of burning light he raved,
kicking embers, exploding like comets through space.
Cackling hoarse, bending backwards he stood on his cane,
grinning, winking, disappearing without a trace.


"Avast, Demon! To hell, from whence thy came!"
Our fathers an' fellows half heartedly exclaimed.
Over-joyed tear filled eyes, an' smiles all the same,
shouting,smirking, laughing at what folly had became. 

Alas, and so abrupt.

Their spirit crushed as the embers darkened and sang,
swelling flames convulsing, blackened, splitting in twain.
Splitting and splitting, again, again and again.
Morphing, changing into ghast otherworldy shapes..

Fast, and all at once, they leapt and entered the face,
immolating from within, eyes bursting in flames.
Their triumph and smiles bent, wracked, writhing in pain.

Barely a word, barely a sound could escape.
Naught, but spouts of hellfire from mouths torn agape.

In horror and agony our fathers fled,
to the town, and to their homes.. the fires spread.
All their finery, their luxuries... all their beds,
all their wives, their love'd ones.. All are ash, all are dead.


...


No grain, no seed, no hope ever took there again,
only we, the ghosts and memory remains...


So, silent we stay
curse the day we spoke his name,
He who leaps the flame.





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