The Red Debt

Just some bread

Just a roll

For my grandmother

No one will know

She's been so frail

So perhaps I'll grab a pail

I'll fill it with water

For my grandmother

Just a bit of water

No one will know

What's that I hear?

Foot steps I hear!

Chasing me down

"Turn around!" he growls

But nobody knew!

I thought that no one would know!

"Stop theif!"

"Stop!"

"Pay the debt you owe!"

Down the road

Over the fence

Stop in the bushes?

No!

Keep running

Keep running

Through the trees

Keep running

Burning lungs

With drying tongues

Heaving and gasping

For air I keep grasping

Air that I can't have

While my arm is being grabbed

"I'm sorry!"

I scream

"Not sorry enough, theif!"

He growls

"It was just a little,

Just for my grandmother, you see,

For my grandmother I theive!"

I pleaded

I whined

I reasoned

With the unreasonable

"Pay the debt little Red!

Pay the debt!"

He howls

"PAY THE DEBT LITTLE RED

AND IF YOU'VE NO MONEY

PAY THE DEBT WITH A LITTLE RED"

He chanted and he chanted

Of a debt I think I owe

What was it that I stole?

Oh lord, I don't know.

I've forgotten what it was,

Why did I steal it again?

Oh grandmother,

I'm so sorry

I don't think I'll be home again.

You never told me,

Where does the soul go?