The Devil Poem by Herbert Nehrlich

I sit by your pillow and watch you sleep,
sit straight as a willow, and ready to weep.
Your poor chest is heaving,
the doctors are leaving.
And all you can do is to sleep.

My mind is blank, it's been hit by a brick.
I tried to pull rank, 'cause my lovely is sick.
But their faces were stern,
the demeanour of strangers,
they had told me to learn
how to walk 'way from dangers.

'We have done all we can',
said the white-haired rooster.
'Now we'll turn on the fan
and the Klachnikoff Booster,
not that it will cure
this disease,
I am sure.
But we might as well fudge it
for the hospital budget.

And they went down the lift.
I got up then to shift
my bundle of joy,
(once my Helen of Troy) ,
to her back from her side.
She was easy to slide.

Though the Matron had said
not to worry 'bout sores,
so she laid in this bed
and her chart said: No Chores!

And the doctor named Yates
said: 'Just leave her alone,
at the Pearly Ole Gates
they are used to just bone.
They'll take poofters and whores
and accept all bedsores! '

So I took out the bill
from the Medi-Cashier.
And it didn't say 'KILL',
but big numbers were here,
so I crumpled the paper
and climbed into bed.
Likely, looked like a raper
if somebody had
peeked into her room
to check 'Lily Muluhm'.

But nobody did,
it seems they all hid.
So I did what was needed:
I called to the Devil,
who promptly came down
for a meeting with me.
And I said to him 'Satan,
let's be on the level,
you tell me the story,
that's how it shall be.'
So the Devil considered
what he'd get from the Spiel,
then he stomped down his hoof
and said: 'Here is the deal':
'I've been watching you two
for considerable times,
like a left and right shoe,
like a twin-set of limes.
And to tell you the truth,
I can only say 'STRUTH',
for this love can't be beaten,
it cannot be done,
and when I say 'Defeatin''
it means you have won.'

'See, the secret is simple
if you truly believe
in the love of your sweet heart
then you won't have to grieve! '

'So go kiss her and hold her,
just with love, not with lust.
Use your arms to enfold her
and just do what you must.'

And he said his Goodbyes
with impeccable grace,
as I wondered about lies
from the Devil's own face.

Then I bent down and kissed her
as softly as needed,
and held her and cuddled
'til the night had receded.

And at Dawn's first light -
praise the Devil above you!
She opened her eyes,
held my face and said
'LOVE YOU'