Devil Sunday

It was Sunday morning, early,

I was going to go to church,

Re-establish with my Maker

Some connection, through a verse,

We would sing the same old Carols

It was Christmas, after all,

And the vicar in the pulpit

Would upbraid us, for our fall.

 

It was long since I’d attended,

It was years since I had thought

Of my Christian beginnings

In the Church they called St. Paul.

I had once sung as a choirboy

With a ruff about my face,

When I was a boy soprano

Singing loud, to lend him grace.

 

But I’d grown and looked around me

At the world and all its things,

And its science would astound me

As I learnt what money brings,

So I drifted slowly from the path

That led to Heaven’s Gate,

Until time was all around me,

Had I left my bid too late?

 

I remembered that he’d said

He noted every sparrow’s fall,

If his love was so encompassing

He surely loved us all.

All we needed was repentance

I repented now in spades,

For my part in an imperfect world

Whose glitter always fades.

 

I stepped outside to find that snow

Had fallen overnight,

Blanketing the coarser features

Of our world in white,

I stepped on out towards the Church

The snow crunched underfoot,

My burden was much lighter now

I’d thought, and understood.

 

A man in black approached me

And I recognised his gait,

He fell in step beside me

I supposed that it was fate,

‘I’ve been sent to collect you

From the offices downtown,

They said that you must come at once,

The estimates are down.’

 

‘Not possible,’ I answered,

‘I am on my way to Church,

You can tell them that I’m sorry

That I leave them in the lurch,

But I have a pre-appointment

With my Lord and Maker, God!’

He said, ‘Keep that one appointment,

You’ll be looking for a job!’

 

I shrugged, and then he left me

Disappeared the way he came,

But my shoulders felt much lighter,

Though I thought: ‘Well that’s a shame!’

But I pressed ahead, determined

That I wouldn’t be gainsayed,

On this day, the Christ Child’s birthday,

From the plan that I had laid.

 

But then an older woman called

For help, beside a gate,

She said, ‘Please sir, do help me

Or it may be far too late!

My husband’s in the parlour

And he’s had a sudden fit,

I need to call an ambulance,

Can you please see to it?’

 

I looked at her, remembered,

And I said, ‘You’re rather late,

You haven’t had a husband now

For seven years, or eight,

I really must be getting on

It’s quite a way to Church.’

She muttered, and she scowled at me,

And then, I heard her curse.

 

A car came round the corner

And it tried to run me down,

It slid along the footpath

As I jumped, and turned around,

The man behind the wheel had glared

Then drove away again,

To keep that straight and narrow path

Was going to bring me pain.

 

A lad on a toboggan slid

And took my feet from me,

I landed in a heavy fall

Of snow, most thankfully,

By then the Church was well in sight

I hobbled on ahead,

‘Til I could hear the singing

Of the Psalms, clear in my head.

 

A beggar tried to rob me

And a group of people swore,

As I at last limped painfully

Towards that old Church door,

‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’

Began, and I turned round,

And with my hat saluted them,

The Devil’s Underground!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Tate Morgan]

it sure changes us doesnt it ,the day we decide to be good and selfless? So the friends we once called home no longer hang with us and leave uis to our fate. I see this same cultural phenominon on drug addicts. One who was once a addict then goes strait and the people he once called friends disapear like roaches in the light . Such is the path and the way of the straight and narrow. i might try it myself oneday .When i feel the copld hand of the end upon me .

[Becky C Strukamp]

i'm still pondering this one. Well written. I saw it a smite different, to me it said while on his way to church he forgot to do what God would surely have wanted, him to help his fellow man, church is everywhere and our salvation is in how we treat others. ???

[Valentine]

I am a bit staggered by this one..I really loved it and saw the truth and the devil wroking side by side..Nice ending..You come up with the most amazing writes me knowing as little about you as I do..love Kathie

[David Scott]

You have submitted some very strong writing of late. This story is a full sermon in a few short lines! The concept of one's salvation available, but requiring the persistent choice to seek it. A story of Biblical parallel.
You continue to show your depth David.

[Tarry Franck]

Wow - astonishing...great piece...it flowed so well. It was a delight to read :)

[quinfinn]

i love the rhythm and the rhyme scheme is perfect, of course. the subject is both serious and humorous which makes for a delightful departure from the status quo and i loved the last line.....i won't give it away here...priceless!