Have you ever felt watched
when your ship never came in?
Have you ever felt cheated
when life handed you a win?

Have you ever felt discouraged
and a little bit off track?
I feel as though when I entered life,
the devil placed a mark upon my back.

And it signals to everyone
that my soul's too kind
and I'll never see it coming
while I let you rob me blind.

It tells the world around me
that I'm just a simple fool.
I didn't know I'd wore that mark.
So much for the Golden Rule.

It just seems the world's a midway
with its various dreams and schemes.
And we're all trying to win the life
of the great kings and queens.

But sometimes we're too gullible
when we're handed that crown
because it's just leading to temptation
that will later knock us down.

We talk about our ups and downs
and of all our turns and bends.
But even the greatest ride
around our sun, must end.

We all play the fool
trying to win life's prize.
We're all simple players
even in God's own eyes.

We call Him unjust
with a game rigged of wire
that damns us all to "win"
that dreaded pain and fire.

We lose faith and not believe
some games are honestly ran.
We'd rather damn its purpose
and curse the working man.

I hope when I leave this world,
I'll have something wise within my heart
So when I enter those pearly gates...
the devil removes my mark.

©September 16, 2007 Lori S. Maynard "The Carnival Poet"