The Cave of the Nymphs

The Cave of Nymphs on Kalymnos -
a wormhole to a magic world
where seven maidens fled for refuge
but did not return…

Pursued by cut-throats, seven girls
entered deep into the earth
and found themselves in wonderland,
a limestone chamber, lined with pearls.

Music flowed from unseen flutes,
an invitation to the dance;
like voices from a former life
came echoes of a children's chant.

The floor lay deep in rose petals;
walls lined with cushions and divans,
tables laid with island sweets
greeted their bemused advance.

The pastries smelt of cinnamon,
wild honey from Minoan bees;
pitchers filled with pomegranate
juice and nectar stood between.

The children's voices sounded near,
a shaggy creature loomed in view,
pied black and white, a goat, a man,
and at his lips the pipes of Pan.

Behind him, children laughed and sang.
The seven maidens stood entranced,
for here were all the children lured
from Hamelin, snatched from Beslan…

The shaggy psychopomp withdrew,
but turned back for one final glance:
the children and the women danced,
the children shyly holding hands.