Trip to Nowhere

The bus stood still in the cul-de-sac,

He knew it had come for him,

For the colours of day were beginning to fade

And the nights had been closing in,

He'd not been bad, as in 'terrible bad'

Was less than a good man, true!

But the bus stood still in the cul-de-sac

With the legend - 'Coming for YOU!'

 

He waited there by the myrtle hedge

Then he heard the motor catch,

The driver, he was a terrible man

With a cloak and a hood to match,

He stopped the bus with a squeal of brakes

As the doors had folded in,

And rasped, 'Hey Carcass, clamber aboard

Let the ride of your life begin!'

 

The passengers sat there two by two

All grey in the fading light,

Not one had looked at another in there

In the gloom of their present plight.

They passed the cemetery walls at dusk,

Slowed down, then drove right in,

And sank right under the ground just there

At a stop called - 'THE SEVENTH SIN!'

 

A sign outside said 'Vanity',

Another sign said 'Lust',

Most of the passengers got off there

And promptly turned to dust!

The driver laughed in the back of his throat

And thrust the bus in gear:

'We'll find a stop that will suit you more

If it takes to the end of the year!'

 

A host got off at 'Gluttony',

Another few at 'Greed',

Most of the rest at 'Envy' left

Who'd wanted more than their need.

That left but two of them seated there

On the bus that was bound for Hell,

The other guy blanched when they got to 'Sloth',

Reached up, and tinkled the bell.

 

Then just the one who'd clambered aboard

Was left with a stop to go,

He clutched a briefcase under his arm,

And yelled, 'You drive too slow!'

The driver growled, and planted his foot,

On the bus that carried the dead,

'Don't mess with me,' said the passenger,

'I've a deadline, straight ahead!'

 

The bus pulled up at the 'Anger' stop,

The driver had turned and grinned,

As the passenger paused on the outer step

He said, 'You'll see, my friend...

You'd better pick up your pension now,

Your future's in grave doubt...'

And he stepped on down at the final stop

As the flames rose round and about.

 

The Devil stood by the Welcome Mat,

All horns and tail, at his best,

Was dressed in his charming goat-hair suit

To greet his important guest.

The passenger opened his briefcase then,

Pulled papers out, and a pen,

'Just sign at the bottom, you hairy goat,

Then you can be gone again!'

 

The Devil spluttered, 'I rule this roost,

I'm sending you into the fire!'

The passenger curled his lip, said this

Was a Hostile Take-over!

'They listed you up on the Stock Exchange,

And we had sufficient clout,

There's rules, you know, of Monopolies,

And you've just been voted out.'

 

The sulphurous lake of fire went out,

And steam rose up in the dark,

'This set-up is so old-fashioned now,

We're breaking it all apart.

We've sold off 'Greed' to the Barristers,

And 'Gluttony' to Big Mac,

While 'Envy's' gone to the smaller Banks,

They know what to do with that!'

 

The Devil's tail had drooped at that,

'What is there left for me?'

'We're not inhuman,' the passenger said,

'The shareholders agreed...

They left you in charge of 'Anger' so

You can still rage up and down,

But you'll have to start wearing a business suit

If you're planning to come to town!'

 

The Devil sits at his city desk

And chews at the end of his pen,

He hasn't written so many complaints

Since God and the Lord knows when,

While over the street is the enemy,

'Gas Fires and Kitchen Sinks',

The Corporation that brought him down

Now known as 'Hellfire Inc.'

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Bubo]

I loved this twist on the Deadly sins............mingled with what our world has become, just great reading!

A sign outside said 'Vanity',

Another sign said 'Lust',

Most of the passengers got off there

And promptly turned to dust!

The driver laughed in the back of his throat

And thrust the bus in gear:

'We'll find a stop that will suit you more

If it takes to the end of the year!'

[Gone]

ROFL! Such a witty and origional take on those seven deadly sins. Love the corperate takeover! fantastic.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Humorus and witty and I loved the rhyme scheme

[Art]

Great work David...the world is filled with each and every Sin that man has been able to be consumed by...the Devil never sleeps huh? Well hopefully he sleeps just enough to lose his pedastal..

great work...*****

Again I am left speechless! Bravo!

[Phibby Venable]

brilliant writing with an excellent message.

[Doreen]

You never disappoint! This is wonderful. I love your wit and humor, though the message underneath is clear and well said. You have a wonderful gift for telling a tale in a poetic symphony. Your style is unique and terrific! Thank you so much for sharing. :)

[Mark]

This began as a commentary on the inescapable fate of humans who choose to live in the fleshy world, rather than struggle against the world's temptations. But, in typical Paget style, your wit kicked in, and now it is a romp against the greedy, gluttonous, angry, slothful, envious souls who have wreaked such havoc in the world , and not just these past two years, don't you believe it! It's easier to castigate the evil we see and experience firsthand, which cost us our pension or our job, but (with a mild chide at Tomas's comment), Satan is the SOURCE of all that evil, NOT a hapless bystander. If only putting him out of business were as easy as filing a hostile takeover! "Feeling sorry" for him is playing directly into his hands!
As ever Dave, if it were possible to laugh and weep simultaneously, so should I now be doing. This most piteous plight we've placed ourselves into, and so steadfastly refuse to abdicate, is a horror, and your brilliant manner of pointing that out is a joy!

[Tomás Ó C..]

Very enjoyable... ah poor old Satan... youd feel sorry for him, no?

[Valentine]

David, another great but true write of what we face today just looking at or reading the news..All seems like it is in the devils hands..but he still is a licked for of God..lol and God bless..Kathie