Poetry for Reflection: ‘The Devil is Quite Near’

Bob McCarty Writes ^ | 10-6-09 | Bob McCarty

[BobMcCartyWrites]

Almost a year ago, I received permission from Merry Roloff, a 50-something aspiring writer who lives near Denver, to publish a poem she had written about the prospect of Barack Obama becoming president of the United States. Today, I offer the words of that poem again as something upon which my fellow Americans might want to reflect.

[BobMcCartyWrites]

The devil is quite near…

And though I watch around me, with wondrous eyes of awe

As the masses are quite mesmerized, by this devil in disguise

He speaks of change and sharing, his shape it shifts to please

And the masses they’re believing, on this hoary tongue of lies

He speaks of all the things he’ll do, of the dragons he will slay

And the spreading of the booty, to the masses he does tell

His opponent is a temperate man, whose heart is full with love

For a country held in turmoil, a place he knows quite well

But the masses are quite mesmerized, by this devil in disguise

As he speaks of better things to come, for the loved ones of us all

So I ask my friends and countrymen, please keep and open ear

And keep an open view on things, for the moment is quite near

I ask my friends and neighbors, who may be a slight naive

To take a second look around, and see what lurks beyond

For the devil tends to shift his shape, to please the eye of all

And he speaks his words to please the ear, and appeals to where we ache

So take another look my friends, and try to see the truth

And try to see the view beyond, the better days to come

For all we ever want and need, is within our grasp quite soon

If only through the fog we saw, the harvester of lies, the devil in disguise

He bears a name from lands afar, and his past is cloaked from all

His lineage of land not sure, a twisted past he wears

So please, I beg, I plead my case… please take another look

at this devil who has promised all, the fortune that they seek

Is this really what you seek my friends?

This sprite whose set the hook? For bait, is what he has laid out and the school has seen the fare

And the school he has now netted

Is fully unaware.