The Laughing Man Poem by Clayton A. Engle, III

I heard the man's laughter as I looked to the tree.
Hanging from the rope swung the once thirteen apostle,
Who would go down in history as the man who betrayed Christ.
But why was the man laughing?
There was nothing funny about this death.
To satisfy my curiosity I asked the man why he laughed.
Surely Judas felt wrong for what he did,
Which no doubt is why he took his own life.
Still the man laughed not caring much for what I had said,
Until he stopped and told me his name.
I am the devil,
I find all this to be very funny and you want to know why?
The savior of your kind died and all he wanted was peace and love,
To make the world a better place from the likes of me.
You and your kind give hugs as a gesture of love,
Yet for Pilate to learn who Jesus Christ was Judas gave him a hug.
Ironic how a symbol of love is what killed the Prince of Peace.