But still the devil followed me
With claws around my throat
There, in summer sun
I read the contract that he wrote
My heart was frozen hard in fear
Again he showed his skill:
“I own those things you hold most dear,
to do with as I will.”
Then opened I my mouth to sing
Alone beside the water
And still he sniggered in my soul
“But you are Satan’s daughter.”
That quiet voice, that vicious whisper
Echoed, sneaking, in my head;
Where once I sang the angels’ songs
Now croaked the voice of the dead.
“Thief,” cried I, “I want it back!”
But Thief would only mutter.
He said, “Come take it if you can!
I’ll destroy each note you utter.”
I held the contract in the sun
And prayed that God would take it,
But Satan said, “You broke God’s gift
And you cannot remake it.”
I took a breath to sing again,
To shut out Satan’s words;
And from my own mouth came a voice
Which only once I’d heard…