The Devil’s Lectionary

A Poem

Illustration created by Midjourney

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The Devil’s Lectionary

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Nodding now his head, he sleeps.
Nodding off, the Land of Nod.
Dreaming death. Beneath the sod,
Dreaming life. Though dead, he weeps.

Lovely Linda’s painted face,
Lying on a perfumed bed.
Just her face without her head.
Grisly unsolved murder case.

Child ’neath the witch’s cairn,
Baby in its mother’s arms.
That which loves is that which harms.
Satan too was once a bairn.

Family turning in one night,
“Say your prayers.” The hiss of gas.
Phantom figures wake and pass—
Pass into the swirling light.

Not much time. Her visage grays.
Poison courses through her veins.
Pull of trigger, splattered brains
Of the man whom she repays.

Whence the demon’s leering grin
In the barber’s haunted glass?
O’er his corpse a shrieking lass,
Razor gash beneath his chin.

“Try my vittles, little ones.”
Old kind woman bending low.
Nothing left of her to show.
Laughter thru the fairies runs.

“My last trick’s been known to fail.”
Tap of magic wand on brim.
See the empty gallery grim?
In his hat the dead souls wail.

Illustration created by Midjourney

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