The Toll Master

At night, in the mist I was walking and came upon a road.
On the road, in the distance lain a bridge.
On the bridge, was a toll master.

As I approached I saw a man standing before it's somber gates,
dressed in white apparel. He placed his hand into his chest and he
moaned as he pulled out his heart from his ribs and laid it upon
the ground.
And the gates opened for him to pass, for he had paid his toll.

And then behind him in tandem, adorned in silk and
in gold and silver, another man stood before the toll master.
He stripped until naked and handed his riches to the ground upon
the man's heart.
And again the gates opened and the rich man passed.

Then another in tandem;
A tall man with much strength and armor upon him, reached into his back
and withdrew his spine and laid it upon the rich man's jewels,
upon the man's heart.
And the gates opened for him and he passed.

And another man in tandem who shimmered with fine polish,
bent before the toll master and spat out his spirit upon the strong
man's spine, upon the rich man's jewels, upon the man's heart.
And the gates opened for him and he passed.

And another in tandem who possessed a golden box,
stood also before the toll master and put the box atop
the man's spirit, upon the strong man's spine, upon the rich
man's jewels, upon the man's heart.
And the gates opened for him and he did pass, for the box contained
his soul.

And alas came a poor man, naked and in bonds and crippled.
And he began to plead with the toll master for he had nothing, saying "I have yet nothing to trade because I am poor and in bonds and am crippled with pain." And he sat weeping before the toll master, humble and sincere and without.
For a time the gates were still but then opened, and then toll master
spake:
"Take ye this man's soul and this man's spirit and this man's spine
and this man's riches and this man's heart and go then ---
For your toll has been paid."
And he did pass.

ATS
5/12/91