Phyllis Sladek

sladek@umail.ucsb.edu

Temptation

The Devil comes dressed

Like you might expect -

If you’d read the right book

If you’d known what to look for

More like as not

Fancied up

A whisper in your ear -

When they all say

“You’re no good!”

He alone says, “You be might fine.

I almost can see it.”

You don’t notice -

It’s the same coin.

When he opens his hand,

The shiny side is up.