We believe villains are more than just two dimensional evil-doers. They're complex characters who rarely get to share their stories. The concept may seem silly, but empathy is a skill. If we can practice it here, we just might have a shot at understanding the 'villains' in our everyday lives.
I do my job
I follow the brief
Given by God
That autocratic humourless Ghoul
Who feeds off my soul
I run my department with finesse
Aplomb, and panache
Do I get thanks?
A pat on the back?
Not a bit
Just bad press
So what if the contracts I offer
Are creative and filled with tricks
That’s who I was designed to be
Blame him at the top
Not a minion like me
My names are many
My appearance is varied
Always filled with horror
And death
But what do you expect
With a job description
Like mine
Someone refined
Prissy and kind
No
Taken for granted
That’s me
By him up above
His vengeance for my transgression
Is well understood
But hasn’t he heard
That forgiveness he preaches
Can apply
even to the likes of me
But no I’m stuck
Doing this job
With pitchforks and devils
In a hot airless cavern
With brimstone and flames
And the only sound
Is of those in pain
I long for the heavens
Way up above
Where once I roamed
With a life full of love
But one tiny mistake
When I challenged him up above
Now I’m cast down forever
Without any love
Christine Fowler began seriously writing poetry and fiction in 2019. Since 2020 her prose & poems has been published in journals, anthologies, online, & in print in the USA & UK. Her work often follows a dark theme reflecting her varied life experience. To see more go to https://www.christinefowlerpoetry.com Instagram@christine.fowler.poetry