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