Getting Souls Poem by Herbert Nehrlich

The Devil had gone down the stack
of the big ironworks in town
and in his haste he hurt his back
and counted souls when he touched down.

A normal chimney would not do
as only few live in a house
he'd usually get all the crew
and, often, even one small mouse.

The factory was well-equipped
with timber and the usual stuff
but many bodies had been shipped
before he got there, it was tough.

So, quite depressed and out of luck
he climbed into a shiny box
soon ran entirely amuck
took off his coat and then his socks.

As up in Hell the great big fire
had died while storms from Heaven blew
he'd changed into a mad vampire
some day he may just come for you.