THE CHARIOTEER

The blacksmith steps away 

from the forge where the gold 

is cooking like a thick brew

to help the young boy

into the chariot,

to hand him the reins,

leaving the ore unattended.

With a fire and fury, the boy gallops 

off into the distance, and with him 

magically, surreptitiously go

some of the blacksmith’s 

precious gold, unbeknownst to either.

The neglected element 

is not fooled:

it knows the cargo 

the charioteer is carrying.  

It knows the village

will never reclaim its losses.