28 Poems - 19

Dead End Avenue


I was drinking with the Devil
In a bar just south of Hell.
He bought me 20 shots of Jack
And said "You're looking swell.

"Just one more drink and you can live
Your every fantasy.
You'll have the drive of 20 men
But no ability."

Oh Lord, Lord!
Life is a dead end avenue.
Devil gonna kiss your soul
No matter what you do.


I was standing with the Devil;
We were on a mountainside.
He said, "You know how great you are --
Why not be glorified?"

He said, "I'll give you majesty
Upon a golden throne.
The multitude will praise you
But you'll always be alone."

Oh Lord, Lord!
Life is a dead end avenue.
Devil gonna kiss your soul
No matter what you do.


I was walking with the Devil;
He was wearing cloth of gold.
He said, "I can give you riches
That would make a miser cold."

Then he handed me a diamond
And he said, "These stones don't lie.
You'll have everything you want
Except whatever gold can't buy."

Oh Lord, Lord!
Life is a dead end avenue.
Devil gonna kiss your soul
No matter what you do.


I was sleeping with the Devil.
He said, "I can see your dream.
You want lovin' and affection
But you got no self-esteem."

He said, "I'll give you confidence --
It's courage that you lack.
You'll fall in love ten times a day,
They just won't love you back."

Oh Lord, Lord!
Life is a dead end avenue.
Devil gonna kiss your soul
No matter what you do.


I was talking with the Devil --
He was giving me the score.
He said, "Evil gets attention;
It's the Good that men ignore.

"You were taught that virtue prospers
But it's all a pious fraud.
It's the saints who do my bidding
When they beat a path to God.

"Sainthood's not an inspiration;
It's a height few men can climb.
Normal people see the mountain.
They say, 'I don't have the time.'

"Men see saints and say, 'No thank you.
Not a thing I want to be.'
Men say, 'I can't eat that diet!'
Which is why they're food for me."

Oh Lord, Lord!
Life is a dead end avenue.
Devil gonna kiss your soul
No matter what you do.

Oh Lord, Lord!
I need your help to see me through.
Devil gonna catch my soul
No matter what I do.


copyright 2009 Matthew J Wells