The Demon: A Raven Parody

Once upon a midnight hour, as I climbed the old bell tower And the staircase fell and rose around the circular walls While I quietly traveled, creeping, suddenly I heard a peeping Of a demon so silently reaping, reaping the souls in the tower hall. 'Tis but a poltergiest' I muttered 'hoping fear will make me fall But back Hellfire she should crawl.' Ah, distinctly I remember she was cold as dark November Despite the heat of Hellfire embers from the pit of which she crawled. Eagerly I wished the rapier from Heaven's gates would make her taper And make it so the Devil hates her-hates her more than could be recalled Hates her for the abandonment of demons more numerous than could be recalled And towards the Heavens she would crawl. And the softened, sad, uncertain cries of each taken soul Killed me-filled me with horrid terrors I could not recall; So that now, to still the frighting of my soul, I stood reciting 'Tis but a poltergiest journeying with me up the wall- Some fear-fueled ghost journeying with me up the wall; - And back to Hellfire it should crawl.' Presently my soul grew stronger, begging me to flee no longer, 'Miss, ' said I 'Or misses, from Heaven I suspect you did fall; But the fact is I was seeking the souls here you are reaping So silently you are reaping, reaping souls upon this wall That I scarce knew of your presence'-I'd reached the tower's hall; - And into the Hellfires she forced my fall.