TAKE A LOAD OFF

Take a load off
By J.C. Hammer

I saw an Angel the other night, walking by the Devil’s side,
Just like friends long acquainted, laughing and walking in stride.
I thought it such a funny sight, I had to listen in.
No talk of politics or the stock exchange, no sainthood or sin.
Just a bit of this and that, idle talk to pass the day.
Nowhere to go, no business to tend, simply strolling on their way.
At this point they noticed me, and turned to intercept 
“Goodday,” the Angel bid to me, his hand I did accept
The Devil, too, he smiled at me, and yet still I feared
The whole of Hell at his bid, pure evil revered
But then they gestured to me, had me follow by
And seeing my clear distress, they ask what was awry.

“Pardon the query,” I said, unsure, “but haven’t you things to do?”
And the Devil laughed, smooth and deep, jarring my mood askew.

“Not a thing, kind sir,” he said, and I sensed no intent to defraud.
“Your kind has done my work for me, and for that I must applaud.
“For hate runs strong across the land, conniving and deceit.
“There’s no one left to convince, my work is now complete.

“Now I take a load off, my burden willingly borne.”

I turned to the Angel at this point, surprised at his lack of ire.
“Surely you have work to do,” I said, “with the world as such on fire?”

And the Angel laughed, high and trill, somehow unabashed.
“What have I to do?” he said. “For the Devil has dealt his last lash.
“And besides, despite my urgent pleas, my calls to righteous actions
"Your kind no longer heeds my words, even the 'purest' of your factions 

"So, now I take a load off, with no one willing to share it."

By now, I was quite taken aback, astonished at the thought
That we'd decayed deeply enough, to set these two at naught. 

Could it be the war was over, the one 'twixt virtue and vile?
Or had we simply stolen it with our love for all hostile?
Yet still I had one last doubt, a question that did persist.
"Why then don't you quarrel? Does your enmity not exist?"

They both laughed this time, and slapped me on the side.
My cheeks turned red; I was snared by some joke implied.
"Look at you, even now," the Angel said. "You insist on hate."
"But of course," the Devil added. "That is his natural state.
"I trained them quite well, and now they cannot tell,
"Their existence is such a small one, a drop in an infinite well 
"They waste their time at war, when there isn't much to go 'round
"They prefer darkness and bondage, to light and the profound.
"They value their minutes and discard their years
"They ignore their countless joys for their handful of fears

"And despite all this they proclaim their cheer, even as their face is flooded with tears!
"And even as their cities smoke and they suffocate and choke, with self-applied yokes and clothes blood-soaked!
"They kneel and pray to the evil they made! Grateful for their decay, until they are castaway
"To the darkness of space, forgotten, alone.
"No more than a cosmic memory, a monarch dethroned.

"So, young one. Answer me now, what would you prefer?
"Continue from whence you came, to your nature defer?
"Or take our lead and come along our way?
"Tell us now, what do you say?"

I looked him once over, my mouth all agape,
Then I collected myself and let my thoughts take shape.

"I suppose you're right," I said. "There's no point to this fight."

So, I took my load off and called it a night.