The Pied Piper

by Sergey Stratanovsky
translated by J. Kates

I’m no romantic —
The pied piper said — I am opposed
To the sound of flutes inviting
children of the town into the abyss
And not sparing things
transforming them
This is not my music,
I am in favor of simple melodies
Sharptoothed, accessible living with me
My favorite rats