The Devil’s Coach Horse
Bring me a beast, the devil said,
with eyes as black as night,
and flanks of jet, jaws of steel
and demon-itch to fight.
Bring me a beast, the devil said,
with muscled legs of wire,
to canter long, and canter strong,
with lungs and guts of fire.
And so it was, the coachman came
back from his forest ride,
with all the devil’s orders met
and a beetle by his side.
with eyes as black as night,
and flanks of jet, jaws of steel
and demon-itch to fight.
Bring me a beast, the devil said,
with muscled legs of wire,
to canter long, and canter strong,
with lungs and guts of fire.
And so it was, the coachman came
back from his forest ride,
with all the devil’s orders met
and a beetle by his side.
This poem is copyright (©) Rachel Burrows 2026
About the Writer
Rachel Burrows
Rachel is a mum and a teacher, but also a noticer of things. She loves standing still and absorbing - taking in the sounds, smells and secrets of our world. She has travelled far and is frequently found in pea-patches.
