the piper calls the tune

he wields his flute with an expert hand

and then

all too soon

the dancing stops and the children stand

the piper calls the tune. he holds their future in his palm

an old and powerful man

with missiles poised and bombs at hand

they wait for his command. with songs of fear and bigotry

a cruel

hypnotic sound

he plays his last tune greedily

and strikes the children down.