The Cinder-Eater

The cinder-eater lives out where the trail meets the briar
Just beyond the circle, lurking, listening along
Eyes agleam, reflecting bright the blazing of the fire
In the hearts of sweet guitars and voices raised up into song

Amid the smoke, a mote of light, a spark has come adrift
To carry on along the breeze and floats across the rift
It flutters on a whisper's breath and settles to the ground
But flickers quick to ash, and there's no warmth left to be found
Oh, flickering to ash, there is no warmth left on the ground

The cinder-eater lives out where the firelight grows weak
The briar thorns' entanglement keeps shadows soft and cool
From deep within, it reaches, weeping, yearning for the heat
But never may it enter, still too fearful to be fooled

Amid the smoke, a cinder flies to wander on the wind
And floats above the circle's heads, still glowing from within
The cinder-eater catches it before it hits the ground
And savors as it greys to ash the gentle warmth it's found
Savoring the warmth as ashes fade to dusty ground

The cinder-eater lives just near enough to hear the songs
It hums along and watches, as it cradles castoff coals
It hold their dying fire close, but never for too long
The skin upon its bones is thin and better off kept cold

Until one night the singers glimpsed the creature in the dark
And saw its fitful shivers as it hunted down each spark
Some part of them took pity as they heard it try to sing
A faint, unsteady melody like those from in their ring
It was a faint, unsteady melody, just like the songs they'd sing

Come join us, sang the singers, and the cinder-eater heard
And crept at last out to the edge, to venture toward the crowd
With caution swept away by wind, emboldened by their words
It entered in the circle, as though finally allowed

Come join us, sang the singers, and the cinder-eater came
Through gritted teeth it braced itself to stand before the flames
Grimacing with melting skin, it smiled as it burned
And found again the lesson it was bound to never learn

[instrumental]

And so the cinder-eater huddles where the briars meet the trees
Protected by the thickets with its brittle skin split wide
Dreaming of the hearth, it mumbles campers' melodies
Clutching close the memory of song and warmth and fire
Clutching close the memory of song and warmth and fire