Outsmarting the Devil

In the story, the devil rubs his hands

and says, “I got her!”

but I will slip free —

I will not allow sticky webs

to be built in corners

anywhere in my mind

I will not allow any compartments

to limit the luminous goodness

I see in the face of my neighbors

and sense in the love that I feel

I won’t be drawn in to complaint,

for it hides the brightness inherent

in each one’s desire to be loved.

It’s easy enough to just love them

and let the devil lose.

©Wendy Mulhern

June 15, 2019