The Devil And God Went Walking Poem by Peter Madden

The devil and god went walking
one fine summers day...
a picnic they brought...
so they could stop upon their way...



looking for a perfect spot...
they wandered near and far....
and found it down near hebden bridge...
by what is called the devils scar..



they opened up their wine...
upacked their meat and cheese...
started eating up their picnic...
enjoying the gentle summer breeze..



'look down there' god did say...
gazing upon the pleasant little town...
'their running through the streets naked'
he exclaimed with a troubled frown..



the devil laughed but then he stopped..
and mightly confused was he...
he said'for all their decadence'
i cant work out if they belong to me?



'nor can i' god exclaimed..
their good in soul and heart...
as far as judging them..
i really dont know where to start..



the devil and god began to argue..
over all those souls at play..
and who would they belong to..
come the firey judgement day...



in the end they agreed...
to a contest of some skill...
the devil was challenged..
to step from hill to hill..



step from here to the other side..
of this little country vale...
and then step back to me again...
their souls be mine if you fail!



the devil took a step across..
and cleared it just about..
so when he reached the other side...
he gave tremendous shout...



but god was watching him....
as the devil prepared to return...
and he thought to him self...
these good souls dont deserve to burn..



so he took the rock in his hands..
the one we now call devils scar..
and he pulled it a little backwards..
making it for the devil just to far...



the devil didnt see this...
and took a mighty stride...
stretching his long hairy legs...
all way to the other side...



but his hoof only just reached the rock...
clipping it at the top...
as he lost his precious balance...
cursing he began his drop...



god picked him up and apologised..
between fits of godly laughter...
and said im sorry devil..
but these folk deserve the hereafter...



so the devil and god left...
and went upon their way...
the stone was called the devils scar..
it still is to this day...