The voice of Emilien

The voice of Emilien (A lone voice whispers) I once met the King of all Darkness In France As we played poker for my soul In a burnt out house While Edith Piaf sang La vie en rose On a tattered radio With no power He carried in his pocket Causing the watching fireflies to dance I remember asking the Tall Man where he'd been He said Paris To cause the Germans and the Resistance some pain And as we played in that falling smoke-filled rain I cheated and won The prize Reaching out through someone after my time has run After my sunrise was over Summoned by the setting Sun In darkness To see if the world still cries Like it did before me In 44 So I send this For we played Again Late last night Old Nick and me And He won The prize Taking me where The sun don't shine To be endlessly chastised So this is my last message For your eyes Before your sun rises Look to the East The low drumbeats Of World War Three are starting to beat For many There will be pain like Oradour-sur-Glane Something so evil You should all remember Who and what you do In whoever's name Or you could be playing poker with the Tall Man As Edith Piaf sings La vie en rose On his tattered radio As The East and NATO Trade nukes Compelled to do so By the prodding of the Tall Man and the curse Of the male ego Goodbye (C) Copyright John Duffy Image shared under fair usage policy