“THE ONE WHO STAYED You should have heard the old men cry, You should have heard the biddies When that sad stranger raised his flute And piped away the kiddies. Katy, Tommy, Meg and Bob Followed, skipped gaily, Red-haired Ruth, my brother Rob, And little crippled Bailey, John and Nils and Cousin Claire, Dancin', spinnin', turnin', 'Cross the hills to God knows where- They never came returnin'. 'Cross the hills to God knows where The piper pranced, a leadin' Each child in Hamlin Town but me, And I stayed home unheedin'. My papa says that I was blest 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.”
Quote by Shel Silverstein
Work
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Browse quotes and source details for this work. more
Author
Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein was an American poet, cartoonist, and writer, best known for his children's books that are often whimsical and humorous. His most famous works include 'Where the Wild Things Are' and 'The Giving Tree'. Silverstein's writing style is characterized by its playful and imaginative storytelling. more
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