The Devil and Demon Park

The girl that captured my heart, I knew

As Angela Dupree,

She stood at the centre of every group

At the university,

The comb in her hair was tortoiseshell,

Her necklace, crosses and beads

And silver bangles jangled her wrists

While her dress trailed lace at the knees.

 

The hair that fell at her shoulders was

More silvery then, than grey,

She said: ‘It’s a strange genetic thing

That came from my grandma’s way!’

We went to the self-same English tute

But she barely spared me a glance,

She favoured the sweatier, sporting type

So I didn’t stand much of a chance!

 

I’d watch her in the refectory

As she sipped her herbal teas,

But glanced away from the leering mob,

From their ribald jokes, and pleas,

As each of them tried to seize her hand

And vie for her every smile;

While soaking in their adoring spin

She basked in their wit, and guile!

 

They’d form a huddle beside the quad

With Angela at the core,

And pass the tokes with their feeble jokes

But kept their eyes on the door,

She came to the tutes all glassy-eyed,

And dreamed, not saying a word,

‘Til the tutor noticed, took her aside,

But I doubt if she even heard.

 

She failed a paper on Rupert Brooke,

I saw the look of alarm,

She’d never failed an assignment yet

But I saw the tracks in her arm,

Her face grew troubled, her brow was dark

With the slide, already begun,

Down to the Devil and Demon Park

And on to oblivion!

 

I found her sitting alone one day

And sat right down by her side,

‘Your ‘friends’ will take you to hell and back

But they’re just along for the ride!’

She looked at me and she curled her lip:

‘So why would you even care?’

But she saw the love-light shine in my eyes,

As I caught the scent of her hair!

 

She wept, and muttered: ‘It’s far too late,

I’m weak, and sick as can be!

All I can think is - how can I score?

Get rid of this devil in me!’

‘There isn’t an easy path,’ I said,

‘But start by taking my arm,

I’ll see you clear, though the demons jeer,

And I’ll keep you free from harm!’

 

I spent a week in her unit there

As she twisted, turned, perspired,

I mopped her brow and I gave her strength

Though she swore, and cursed, and cried.

There were times that she said she hated me,

There were times that she lay and wept,

She would suffer the fits of pain and cramps,

But there at the end, she slept!

 

I’d like to say that it all worked out

That we fell in love in the end,

But once recovered, she kissed me, said:

‘I will treasure you, as a friend!’

I was there when she married a banker’s son,

Was feeling a tear begin,

But she saw me then, and she whispered, ‘Hush!

An Angel has just come in!’

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Mark]

Oh what we will do for love eh? I wonder if the narrator had not felt the attraction if he'd still have done the same? There is something to be said about love for love's sake.

Good structure though there are a couple places where the rhymes seem forced. I'm as guilty of that as anyone else in my own writing. Telling a tale using such structure is work, hard work, to get it just right.

Good job overall and this is definitely a work I can identify with.

[Helen Crutchett]

Bravo our poet David! As usual, I hung on every strategically placed word, hummed along with the rhythm, was in awe of the rhyming and blown away with the beyond top class story. You've mesmerized me again with this tale. Thank you!

[Tomi]

This is Art, I love the story line,the unhappy ending just shows the tragedy life could be, reading this, i felt like i was there when it happened. Well done sir, Great Write, Excellent!!

[Barbara Walker]

A heartbreaking and heartwarming story in one! There was more than one angel there that day!

[Becky]

This was... enthralling. Fascinating. Melodic. Beautiful.

Honestly, I have nothing to say other than that it's really well written and a good story. Flawless, tragic, and hopeful. Beautiful work.

[afra]

this was so beautiful ...i enjoyed it a lott.....well done ...

[Tate Morgan]

David The intricacies of this piece are beyond anything I ever read.It is with wonder and astonishment I tell you this is really up there with the likes of Well We Might. Having known a few who suffered from this i never once saw one cured. I wonder if this is a true story? Yours are the best they touch on our fears hopes dreams and nightmares.Bravo again.

[Loner]

A masterpiece in itself i must say such details keep the
readers hook on from the start till the end leaving us with a lesson
to learn from your mystifying creation.... loved it ...

[roarke]

yep, that's exactly the way it is. I see your pieces as standing back and seeing the whole picture and yet being placed right int he middle of each tale at the same time. No mean feat.
You have this uncanny ability with the telling of relationships, the beauty, the irony, the haunting consequences.
I think this is just what the current generation needs... hopefully they will be able to feel and grasp it all with your help David.

[MOON]

Poignant write, still an angel can't be beat.

[Marie]

A great story, but I'm not sure I liked the ending--though the last line is wonderful.