Marigold & the Worry Warden

“Here, take my keys warden, take them.”

…

The Warden laughs,  “Key!? You are the caged one. You have no key for me.” 

The prisoner, “I have no cage, look, the moon shines bright tonight & she told me of your mother’s sudden death. Your mother is here, calling you to her.”

The wardens eyes welled up and he fell to the floor,

“oh prisoner, how have you slain me so fast?”

The man proceeds, “I was there when I fed you my milk, I also am in him who speaks to you behind the bars in your heart.”

The warden sounded the alarms and at once begged for this prisoner to be freed. The cage was torn down and the one who brought the warden to his knees rested at a gifted cottage upon the hills & thistle brush. The bees followed him wherever he went and even so the moon made him smile most. 

The warden came one day as he often had to offer breads and sweet pudding. Knocking. The gust of wind inward from an opening door, opened the warden yet even more.

“Harold, my friend, please come in,” Marigold welcoming in a warming tone.

Harold enters, sits and receives comfort and fresh sweet water with rose syrup.

“Marigold, what does it feel to be free, what will you do with your new life?”

“New life?” Says Marigold with a brash smile, earnestly childlike yet delicately awake.

“Yes, this place outside bars!” Harold repeats smiling.

…

“Harold, was it not so long ago I told you through this man that it was you who had bars?! Be freed my child.” 

Marigold smiles to look behind Harold with a calm sigh, it wasn’t until Harold realized it wasn’t Marigold who spoke that he turned around, collapsing to his knees in a puddle of tears collected instantly after ground’s arrival. 

Harold whimpered. At his own mothers feet, filled with life & blood she stood over him, smiling. He trembled, “how?” Shaking to declare a sound…

She was silent.

Marigold smiled, then proceeded to pour a third glass.

….