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Give the Devil a Ride and He'll End Up Driving Every Time
by Alex Smyth(To be read rather fast, the lines are iambic heptameter *at least I tried*, and have a rollicking good ride!)
Woke up one Sunday morning doing 90 MPH
With startlin' realization I could not apply the brake.
Looked over to my left and saw the Devil sitting there.
In overdrive, with window down, breakneck, without a care.
Good GRIEF! I cried. Howd you get there and what state are we in?!
He said, Deep in the Badlands, babe," with roguish wink and grin.
Youve been a great compadre, best side-kick a rake could get.
Helped clean up all my messes without nag or too much fret.
Im here to tell you, Toots, this big old world is open wide.
Its full of those to be out-talked, out-thunk or liquor plied.
So take a little break ,my sweet, and rest your lovin mind.
Ill open all the doors for us, you just fade in behind.
I grabbed my head, I tried to think, just how did I get here?
Didt really start with one cute guy and one cold lousy beer?
And when did that gray hair show up and whose crows feet are those?
And when did I trade in my jeans for these old ladies clothes?
Took all my guts and all my friends to bail out from that ride.
Im saner, somewhat wiser, but I still go cold inside
To think of all the damage done to all those I hold dear.
Oh, friends! Pray for delivrance from Beelzebub and beer!
05/09/2003 Author's Note: With a nod to Kris Kristofferson and of course MM, who was in the passenger seat toasting the future with Pony Millers when it all began......
***A challenge topic, for its counterpart, see:Ride With the Devil: by Mara Meade.***
Posted on 05/09/2003
Copyright © 2024 Alex Smyth
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Mara Meade on 05/09/03 at 08:34 PM Alex, this is an autobiography and I'm just rolling in my chair!!!! One day I'll learn to laugh at MY life like you can laugh at yours! |
| Posted by Charles E Minshall on 05/10/03 at 05:54 AM Fun to read Alex.....Charlie |
| Posted by Jeanne Marie Hoffman on 05/10/03 at 06:07 PM very creative and clever |
| Posted by Allan Haslinds on 05/13/03 at 05:03 AM Yeah, that Night Train's a mean wine. |
| Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 05/21/03 at 06:25 PM One has to laugh through the tears with this one! Is there tragic comedy? Or more to the point comic tragedy? It is like not being able not to laugh when one sees a person suddenly fall hard slipping on a banana peel. Great use of meter! |
| Posted by Jean Mollett on 06/28/03 at 06:36 AM Hi Alex,
Good one, clever. Sounds like a nightmare too. I'ld tell that mean old devil to take a hike, your driving not him. And tell him you won't be going thru his open door. And put his butt out & hit the gas pedal & roll on. Hee! Hee! |
| Posted by Graeme Fielden on 07/11/03 at 11:45 PM what a poem...what a story...the poem flowed so freely...the story rang so true...how'd you do that ?! - Nice one Alex :D |
| Posted by Max Bouillet on 07/14/03 at 03:28 PM Tremendous analogy on life... rolls out of the mouth very well... great poem. |
| Posted by Philip F De Pinto on 11/19/03 at 12:56 PM alas, youth was our vice and now this adulthood we don like dander that we cannot shake and thus poetry is born to balm what is long gone and not soon forgotten. |
| Posted by Charles E Minshall on 11/26/03 at 04:37 AM Had to read it again. It still brought out a laugh from me.....Charlie |
| Posted by Glenn Currier on 05/22/04 at 09:26 PM Loved that last line the best. Great ride and good food for thought the next time I encounter my worst temptations. Fun and clever. |
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