If Satan were gone,
We could then discover
Whether man were capable
Of carrying on the wickedness
Previously learned from that master
While left to his own devices
In his own place and time
And under his own
Power and will.
But as it is, under the
Prevailing assumption
That he is still here,
Many may take comfort
In that most addictive idea
That our fault is really his fault.
So if he were not here,
We should not be surprised
If the world would rather not know it.
Even so, I see no present evil
So terrible as to be inexplicable
Without a Satan pulling its strings.
And having learned accountability myself,
I have no need of that most popular hypothesis.
