I watched, silent, as the one I loved

Walked away in the shadow of a mourning dove,

And took our only children into the world.

So I sold my soul for a heart of steel

Now I can’t cry, ‘cause I don’t feel

And the Devil knows I loved my little girl.

But my steel heart can’t love her now

And with no soul, on Satan’s bough,

I’ll live my life for nothing and no one.

And numb I’ll be; I’ll hurt no more

And no one’s lies will rob me poor,

But tell me, mister, do you think I’ve won?

And the old man sighed and looked away,

Through my past, and to the day

That I held my soul and cried, naked, on the floor.

And he saw my deal with the darkest man,

Who trades in souls and silken fans,

And blood-gold coins and bitterness and war.

Then the old man asked me, “Do you miss it,

The laughter that I know you’re missing.

Did you know the laughter’s who you were?”

Sir, I sold my soul for a heart of steel

Now I can’t laugh, ‘cause I can’t feel,

And yet I think it’s better than before.

I just kneeled here, silent, in the dust,

‘til my knees and knuckles turned to rust,

There’s nothing I was really waiting for.

But the old man smiled and held my hand,

Cold it was, in his warm hands,

And said, “My child, what’d you do that for?”

He picked me up by my smallest finger

And led me past where the shadows linger,

Where autumn meets the fires set in Hell.

He took me to the darkest grove,

To the man I gave my broken soul,

And carried me through my tolling of the bell.

Author guidance for This poem

G Minor

updated Feb 16 by Lyre