Better The Angel You Know

The devil on my shoulder

Whispers softly, “walk this way…”

Then she’s off, flies away

But she sways, I may stray

So do I follow or do I stay?

Is she the yea or the nay?

What is she trying to say?

And why would she tempt me like this?

With promises, theft, a giggle, a kiss

A brush of freedom, a hint of bliss

Then a lie, a fist, a head shaken thus

Derision, distrust, delusion

I’ll walk in a straight line to prove I am right

I’ll walk a crooked mile to prove that the only thing new

Is the numbers that move on the squares of paper

That present us with the present and correct date

I’ll wait and wait and I’ll stay up late

I’ll sing little tunes while dancing in rooms

Too small for my moves

But at least I dance

At least I sing melody and romance

And kind of obsess on themes

Of temptation and roads to redemption

And stitch together wings out of

Old denim, guitar strings and things

And flap them against those

Lofty ideals, that wise men

Idolise and lesser men lionise

At least, when I fall

I’ll know it wasn’t all in vain

That deserting little angel

Can be heard to take up my refrain

And off she hums into the rain

To find a new shoulder

“Follow me, walk this way”.

So much to do, so little to say

December 2014 Derek Wilson

~ by Derek Wilson on December 17, 2014.