Shel Silverstein — The One Who Stayed

You should've heard the old men cry You should've heard the biddies When that sad stranger raised his flute And piped away the kiddies Katy, Tommy, Meg and Bob Followed, skipping gaily Red-haired Ruth and my brother Rob And little crippled Bailey John and Nills and Cousin Claire Dancing, spinning, turning 'Cross the hills to God knows where They never came returning 'Cross the hills to God knows where The piper pranced, a leading Each child in Hamlin Town but me And I stayed home unheeding My papa says that I was blessed For if that music found me I'd be witch-cast like all the rest This town grows old around me I cannot say I did not hear That sound so haunting hollow I heard, I heard, I heard it clear I was afraid to follow