When I Fell

One day, I fell,

and I was broken,

and could not rise up.

The devil stood above me.

Saith he,

“I have come to take thee home.”

“But I am home already,” saith I.

“Thou knowest of where I speak,

It is Hell, and thou hast earned it.”

“But sir,” saith I,

“Tis I who dwelleth there already,”

And gales of laughter

He did issue forth.

“What knowest thee of Hell?”

“Why, sir, surely thou hast seen me weather it these many years.”

The devil nod to me, a grim smile did he bear;

“Tis true,” saith he,

and left me to my fate.

A day passeth,

then cometh he again.

“Son, I know thee thou pain.

Take my hand, and it shall end.”

And I was broken, and could not rise up, and my pain was great.

“Sir, I will not, for thy hands

are full of blood, thy heart is naught but hate; thy contempt I feel from here.”

“Sinner,” saith he, for he accuseth all.

And he left me to my fate.

Whence he returneth next I can scarce remember.

“I know why thou hast come unto me,” saith I.

“But thou knowest me not. Thou art a liar, a deceiver. The truth I say to thee,

I am Hell,

I sinneth much,

and truly I am weak,

But here in me thou hast found match,

and though I lay broken,

I shall never give myself to thee.”

“Fool,” saith the devil, and again vanished he.

On the morrow I was rescued,

my neighbor sought for me.

He took me in and he called for help,

and there I mended for a season.

One night did steal

That devil to my bedside.

“Thee are foolish and stubborn

and I do hate thee so,

I long to the day

I will drag thee down,

to the flames awaiting thee.”

I laughed at him in fits of mirth,

With eyes wide he regardeth me;

he had nothing more at last to say,

And he listened to these words,

“I have sinned much, tis true,

and I am filled with Hell,

sad am I, an imperfect sort,

But I already have a place

one set just for me,

a grand table it be,

set with feast and wine,

a place thou canst not go.

For then Hell will be cast from me,

and naught but light remain.”

He turneth away, that devil

did he,

and in parting quoth, “I bideth my time, and we shall see,

for I need not your kind,

but your kind hath always

come willing to me.”