Rhyme of the Senile Bus Patron - an Epic Poem

I was sitting at the bus stop,
Awaiting the number nine.
When an old man sat beside me,
And asked me for the time.

"It's 2:30," I responded,
"The bus will be here soon."
He scratched his head, looked at his watch,
The hands were still at noon.

"Damn!" The old man cried out,
Pumping both his fists.
Sadly, he looked down at the watch,
And removed it from his wrist.

He said, "Son, let me tell you a story,
One only my heart could tell.
About me, a girl, a duck, this watch,
On a carriage ride through hell."

"I remember like it was yesterday,"
He said with hands clasped in front.
"Her name was Mary Elizabeth,
The duck was Charlie Funt."

"We were walking through the forest,
Hand in hand, side by side.
When an old man in a carriage,
Asked if we'd like a ride."

"'How much?' Mary Elizabeth asked,
The man smiled a toothless grin.
'It's free,' he said, and before I could speak,
Mary and Charlie climbed in."

"'Coming sir?' He looked at me,
With eyes empty, hollow blue.
My mind screamed at me to run away,
But my legs did not follow through."

"For the man in the carriage was evil,
I knew it in my heart.
And as I looked in at Mary and Charlie,
My soul was torn apart."

"'Eddie,' Mary said to me,
'Don't you want to ride?'
And even though my heart said no,
Shaking, I climbed inside."

"As he latched the door behind me,
I felt a sudden chill,
He picked up the reigns, cracked his whip,
The horses climbed the hill."

As the bus pulled up beside us,
The old man gave a grin,
"Surely you can stay awhile,
for the story's about to begin."

Despite my haste I sat back down,
Curious to hear his rhyme.
The bus closed its doors and left,
The old man and I left behind.

"Where was I?" the old man asked.
Rubbing behind his ears.
"Oh yes," he continued.
"I'm about to face my fears."

"As the carriage stormed forward,
the passengers shaking inside,
The ground ahead started trembling,
The earth had opened wide."

"The demon cracked the whipped,
driving his horses down,
ahead lay the pit of hell,
I saw Mary and Charlie frown."

"'Sir,' Mary said to him,
'Where does this trip end?'
Her question met with laughter,
By the carriage driving fiend."

"'Ahead lies your future,
In this sorrow laden hole,
You will meet the king of demons,
And bargain for your soul.'"

"Shaking, I tried the latch,
unable to release the bolt.
The heat and flames surrounded us,
Charlie started to molt."

"'Eddie I am frightened,'
I heard Mary say to me.
'I fear we shall never leave,
this place of pain and agony.'

"'Fear not,' I told Mary,
trying to mask my dread.
'Certainly this is a dream,
all images in my head.'"

"Deeper down the chasm we flew,
Hell's horseman led the charge,
Ahead lay a castle of flames,
It's ashen pyres looming large."

"The gates were thrust open,
Allowing our carriage to pass,
Tortured souls hung in chains,
Their flesh raked with broken glass."

"The carriage screeched to a halt
The castle steps off to our right.
Our driver stepped down from his post,
Charlie quacked in fright."

"The driver unlatched the door,
And Charlie took his chance.
He flew quacking past the driver,
Soaring high over the fence."

"'No!' Mary screamed at him.
'Charlie come back here!'
The driver pointed a finger at Charlie.
He exploded in the air."

"Feathers rained down from the sky,
Fluttering in the soot filled breeze.
The driver let out an evil laugh,
Beside me, Mary sneezed."

"Our coachman started up the stairs,
Beckoning us to come.
Trembling, I stepped down from the stage,
Mary followed, her look was numb."

"Up the fiery steps we climbed,
Demons nipping at our heels.
The doors ahead opened wide,
My fear I tried to conceal."

"We entered the threshold of fire,
Standing before a throne of flames,
In it sat the king of demons,
He called out both our names."

"'You both stand here before me
to barter for your souls.
Now tell me what you'll give
If passage home is your goal.'"

"Before the smoldering throne of hell I stood,
The devil awaiting my reply,
As I searched my pockets for items to give,
Mary started to cry."

"'I have nothing to give to you,'
she said softly between her tears,
he reached down and wiped her eyes,
then he spoke, calming all her fears."

"'I shall take your tears in exchange for your soul,
for they briefly cooled my hand,
your bounty has been paid to me,
you are free to leave this land.'"

"I turned as Mary waved to me,
As she walked back down the stairs.
Alone I stood before the beast,
To face his evil glare."

"'What will you give?' he asked,
Frantically, I searched my mind.
As his minions closed in on me,
I quickly blurted out 'Time!'"

"'Time is precious in my world,
That is an undisputed fact.
So for my soul, I give you time,
Two hours and thirty minutes to be exact.'"

"The devil pondered my offering,
I awaited to hear his reply.
'Your gift is rather unique', he said.
'But I think it is worth a try.'"

"My soul safely mine again.
I joined Mary in the coach.
The driver took his seat again.
The stallions pulled at the yoke."

"Cracking the whip his team lurched forward,
Pulling us back whence we came,
Though still only children,
We would never be the same."

"Mary paid her price with her tears,
For that her life would change.
She was void of all emotions,
She would never cry again."

"And in exchange for my very soul,
I had unknowingly sealed my fate.
Despite all my efforts to arrive on time,
I am always running late."

"Now you have heard my tale,
Every word I swear is true.
As it happened sixty years ago,
Is what I said to you."

The next bus arrived beside us,
I stood to walk away,
"You can't leave now," he said to me,
"there is more I have to say!"

"Sorry old man," I said to him,
"I tire of your trite filled rants.
Go tell your lies to someone else,
And please put on some pants."

The bus pulled out with me inside.
Still I see his face,
Talking to a young woman,
Who unsuspectingly took my place.

I never forgot the old man,
Whose meeting came by chance,
I vowed never to talk to old men again,
Especially ones not wearing pants.