My car broke down, between des Moines
and heaven, and I found hell
upon a hill, your lonely house,
I came at night for help.
I came a stranger to your door
you served me dinner, smiled,
and said I’ve got a room for you
I stumbled, strayed beguiled.
I was going somewhere when I came
but lingered, stayed to play your game
I’ve forgotten where I’ve come from
You, seductress lulled me numb
You draped me in your raven hair
spiderwebbed me, thrilled
me with your potions, left me pinned
beneath you, sighed fulfilled.
I came as menace but was tamed,
you gave my name to stars
and singed me with a blazing brand
I’m owned and starving scarred.
I was going somewhere when I came
but lingered, stayed to play your game
I’ve forgotten where I’ve come from
You, seductress lulled me numb
The road to heaven led me here
your house – my haven, lost
entangled and bewitched, I stayed
with you, your skin and frost.
The road is overgrown with weed
I cannot leave, I cannot stay.
Your hair’s gone grey, but still your eyes
can tempt me into plays.
I was going somewhere when I came
but lingered, stayed to play your game
I’ve forgotten where I’ve come from
You, seductress lulled me numb
My car broke down, between des Moines
and heaven, and I found hell
upon a hill, our lonely house,
I came, I stayed, was helped.
I was going somewhere when I came
but lingered, stayed to play your game
I’ve forgotten where I’ve come from
You, seductress lulled me dumb.

Today we are having an open link live at dVerse, and I use an old poem from 2016 to read. Some of you might have read it before and it was for a prompt by Mish on singable poems.
May 12, 2022
I thought of “Hotel California” when I read this. It’s funny how way leads on to way and one is always caught unawares as the enchantress pulls one in.