Fortune and Flame

A desperate man burdened,

By desire and shame,

Walks the crossroads of destiny

For fortune and fame.

In the gravel and dirt

He falls to his knees.

And offers all that he is,

And all he will be.

---

Through the cracks of the earth

Come towers of flame.

The lord from beneath

Calls out for his name!

This desperate soul cries.

His tears, a flood.

A pact, it is sealed,

With flesh and with blood.

---

This prayer is answered.

Now years down the road.

This desperate soul bathes

In silver and gold.

But a burning sensation

Still burdens his soul.

Sacrifices made,

Carry, heavy, a toll.

---

Now day into day

He watches his back.

His dreams now haunted

By that unholy pact.

The flames they are howling.

The hounds draw near.

He does all that he can

to keep his mind clear…

-but the hellhounds smell his fear-

---

Then Vice after vice

He loses it all.

His rise to the top

Stumbles into a fall.

He steals, he cheats

He gambles and lies.

The spirits in his bottle

Fuel hellfire in his eyes.

---

Midnight has come.

The clock’s final tick.

The contract is done.

In rides Old Nick.

As a column of flame

Blazes through the floor.

This desperate soul cries…

Just like before.

---

And nothing was left,

But ashes and tears.

And a folk story told

‘Round campfires for years.

How that desperate man burdened

With desire and shame.

Burnt out his soul.

In fortune and flame.

---

Nessie Roswell