Appointment in Samarra

The merchant in the markets thought himself as free

till one night he felt the shadows start to creep

he froze in the chill of ghostly winter breeze

over his shoulder, he caught a threatening peek

there stood Death eyeing another soul for him to keep

gazes met and Death looked dazedly

then, the merchant knew, the soul was to be he.

The merchant ran, broken dreams and blistered feet

gathered his mount and set to flee

galloping away from destiny

over rugged lands and deserts plenty

the merchant found himself in Samarra that evening

he looked around and took a sigh of relief

until his eye caught sight of what he wished he'd never seen

gazes met and Death stared stonily

then, the merchant knew, he could not run from what was to be.

The merchant in the markets accepted reality

from the hand of Death, no man is truly free

he looked into Deaths glare curiously

"Just a question first, at dawn, why were you surprised to see me?"

because, said Death, it was tonight in Samarra when we were to meet.

With that, the merchant fell

now the merchant in Samarra has met with his decree.