Choices

(The Devil Wears Horned Rim Glasses)

Saw the Devil yesterday.

On train to tower.

Talking in tongues.

Moved his glasses down to curled nose.

Smiled

Pufffffed his joynt.

"Where ya heading - boy?"

He took a drag.

Ex-haled.

"Me sir?"

"Anyone else on this train - boy?"

Look to around to be alone.

"I don't know"

The Devil laughed

"Ya better be sure you're on the right track - boy."

The beggar appeared.

Walking down the aisle with all his worldly possessions and a bottle of gin.

Asked me for some money.

I know all he will do is buy more booze.

I decline.

The Devil snickers and gives him a fiver.

The Devil's red eyes flair.

"You deny him happiness!"

I close my eyes.

The Devil laughs.

"For the grace of your God"

"There go you by."

The truth of it sends a shock down my spine.

Where I now stand in my life.

The choices I have made.

Led me here.

To this train.

Talk'n with the Devil.

White wolf

Comes from my soul.

Growls at the Devil.

He doesn't even flinch

"Struck a nerve, didn't I - boy!"

The Devil gets out of his seat.

Brings his face close.

"Look'n forward to seeing ya - boy"

Puffs sulfur smoke in my eyes.

I stand to face to the Devil.

"You won't be seeing me anymore."

The train stops at station.

"You think you can come in to my thoughts and bully me?"

"I've known bully's all my life and you, sir, are no better.” Take your smoke, your pokes, and your prods off this train!"

The Devil laughs.

"Gonna make me - boy."

And I make up my mind.

I see a railroad switch in my head.

And pull it.

The Devil drops his joynt.

Now It's his turn to growl

"Be see'n ya 'round - boy!"

Puffs a final puff in my face.

The Devil exits the train.

Doors hiss shut like the snake he is.

And someone is tapping on my shoulder.

Vision blurry to focus.

The conductor is standing in aisle.

"We are in the station, you were asleep."

I missed my stop.

Have to take a train back to it.

This time on the right track.

K.J.K. 4-18-04