A demon asked of me last eve,
“How much would cost your soul?
What would be your final price?
What would pay the devil’s toll?”

Funny demon, how strange to ask
For a worthless soul like mine.
My spirit’s broken and not for sale,
Now leave me to my wine.

“Your eyes are dim, your speech is slurred,
And drink’s stench is in your pores.
Every man has his price, lad,
We are merely discussing yours.”

Price? There is no price for me.
Now stop asking for what you seek.
I’m tired and wish to be alone,
I don’t give a damn that I reek.

“I’ll give you money, power, fame,
Make you the greatest man on earth.
I could even grant a woman’s love,
Now how much would that be worth?”

I laughed at this simpleminded antichrist,
This one with victory on his face.
Sure you have more power than I,
A virtual god in time and space.

Here I sit of no concern,
Yet you spend your time with me.
When will your kind ever learn,
To leave a quiet man be?

His face betrayed his anger
Still his voice was clear and calm.
“Clearly you are hurt and lonely,
Yet I offer the greatest balm.

A woman’s touch, a woman’s love,
The most delicate beauty ever seen,
A mind to waken your deepest desire,
In truth, your wildest erotic dream.”

What you offer, you can not give,
What you ask, you can not take,
I already know this woman,
This beauty, this dream of which you spake.

I knew her once, loved her true,
Then I spoke and broke her heart.
That woman you offer this lonely fool,
Is who tore my world apart.

Again, I bid you, please depart.
Leave this crushed man alone.
For the soul you sit bartering for,
Is a soul I no longer own.

His patience began to falter,
There was a quiver in his voice.
Color flushed his cheeks with heat,
As he angered at my choice.

“You fool, I offer you
Power you don’t understand,
I can make you greater
Than any mortal man.”

Here’s a bet then, Satan spawn,
I’ll provide for you a task.
And you must leave me alone,
If you can’t do what I ask.

If you perform the challenge,
Then you can have my soul;
And he laughed with gaping jaws,
That could swallow children whole.

“There is nothing I can’t do,
Nor one place I can’t go.
I have power o’er time and space,
There’s no feat I do not know.”

I accept your challenge, though
Prepare to pay the cost.”
I smiled smugly, to the beast,
Then said aloud, Get lost!

The creature roared knowing
The mortal here had won,
And disappeared with a flash
Bright as the morning sun.

So I sit here this morn,
A man who beat a devil’s bet,
Yet there’s no pride for a man,
Who lives with heart’s regret.