Beezelbub & Me In my study, I was reading, Reading scriptures for my gain. Dozing lightly, barely heeding, Sounds of pounding, driving rain. My reverie abruptly ended, When I heard my doorbell ring. I tried ignoring it, pretended, That I had not heard a thing. Then it turned to heavy knocking, Knocking I could not ignore. I wondered if it could be mocking, Me behind my dwelling door. "Go away", I loudly shouted, Hoping it would do the trick, While in my head I never doubted, I'd have to greet it with a stick. I grabbed my trusty baseball bat, And headed to my locked front door. I spoke quite loudly, "Who is that ? Your knock, knock, knocking is a bore." A plaintive female voice replied, "I'm soaking wet, and terrified! Won't you please let me inside ? I'll leave as soon as I am dried." Reluctantly I snapped the lock, And opened to a startling sight. A gorgeous woman, quite a shock, Was standing there, dressed all in white. Her dress, thin as a négligé, Was soaking wet through to her skin, Displayed a body, I must say, Could easily drown me in sin. She sweetly smiled beneath my gaze, And licked her lips as if to say, 'We could share some lovely days, If you let me come in to play.' Temptation grabbed me by the throat. My wife was on a trip somewhere. Her finding out was quite remote. Spellbound I was, could only stare. Then I noticed something rare, That water soaked her to her skin, Yet not a drop was on her hair. What kind of trouble was she in? I thought of tales which I had heard, Of men at rest in hotel room, Who opened to a winsome word, And ended up meeting their doom. "Wait right here. I'll call a cab. Wear my coat to keep you dry." I even planned to pay her tab, Without a thought of what or why. She said, "I'm disappointed Dear, That you've forgotten your old friend; That you would leave me standing here." She saw I did not comprehend. "Old friend?" I said. "I don't know you." "You're simply fooled by my disguise. Ignore the sexy body, do, And look into my deep red eyes." Then I saw him as of old, Remembered being young and bold. My heart was touched by fear, and cold. I'd once do anything for gold. "Go away", I said to him. I changed my ways. I'm born again." He smiled, "I came here on a whim, To offer you a bargain, friend. "Let me in to chat a while, And show what I can do for you. Force is really not my style, But last resort, I'll make it do. I turned my back and walked away. He followed me inside my home. "I want you gone, but have your say. Then leave me to my ancient tome." "What book engrosses you tonight? Tales of darkness, tales of light ? You wish you may or wish you might Have the wish you wish this night?" "The book I'm reading is the One, That tells the story of the Son, Crucified, and when He'd done, Gave me the victory He has won." "Close it please ... put it away. Open there, it is a threat, Interferes with what I'll say. You haven't heard my offer yet." I closed the book at his request; Watched as he transformed his shell, To something I would not detest; Something pleasant, not from hell. He now looked like a friend of mine, Who was the priest that married me. Though I thought this out of line, I chose to bear and we would see. He well knew of my salvation. Recalled how I left him behind; No matter what his planned oration, No one could ever change my mind. I chose to let him make his spiel, While waiting for the first big lie, And then he offered me the deal, Certain of its great appeal. His offer was extremely plain. This is what he said to me. "Cut down on your big campaign, To lure my subjects; let them be. "All I want from you is this; Stop your war of telling truth. The ones I get, He'll never miss, Denying me would be uncouth. "You have your spot in heavenville, So what's the difference, if you will, But stand aside, let me fulfill, My destiny and have the thrill, Before I pay my final bill, And lie down in the endless chill?" I shook my head, and thought, 'Oh well; Has he learned nothing since he fell?' I said to him, "Can you not smell, The stench of what you try to sell? Why would I send others to dwell, With you and yours is your own hell?" "Look", he said, "There is no cost, Of any kind at all to you. You have salvation, can't be lost, Regardless of what you might do." Another lie he tried on me. I knew he wasn't stupid but, Surely even he could see, My soul was taken, mind tight shut, Against his titillating offers, Gold, and land, and stuff galore, Placed into my earthly coffers, Just to start, and then much more. In times gone by I would have wavered, Schemed how I could have it all. But now I smiled and rightly savored, Watching him in misery crawl. I knew without a doubt right then, What scripture long ago foretold, He'd make a final effort when, I was in reach of my life goal. He'd come to find me unaware, Engrossed in struggle, toil and trial, To trap me in his devil's snare, And turn me into something vile. In my hand I found a sword, Sent by the One whom I adored, And with it mercilessly gored, Cutting through his spinal chord. Then with my peace of soul restored, My hands raised high; my spirit soared. So he lost this single battle, To regain control of me, But he will come again and prattle, How he could really set me free. His brand of freedom is a lie, Told for eons come and gone, To fools who think they will not die, Who'll wake to find they have no dawn, That their last chance has flown away, On wings of faith that went astray, When they believed his pack of lies, For in the end, each person dies, Except for those beloved by God, Who in His paths faithfully trod. copyright ©2011 Wayne Hepburn - All Rights Reserved