Devil to Devil

Sijun Cui

You speak with my voice—
same grin, same wound behind the smile.
We meet not in hell,
but in the hush between right and almost-right. 

We weren’t born evil, were we?
Just shaped by jagged edges
others left behind.
You carved mercy into a blade,
and I learned to wear calm
while setting fire. 

Do you regret it?
No—me neither.
Yet sometimes,
in the mirror’s murmur
or a child’s unblinking stare,
a question hisses:
Who forgave us? 

We wore survival
like a cloak of cruelty.
We called it power,
called it justice,
called it not our fault.
Yet guilt clings like old perfume—
you smell it even when it’s gone. 

You say:
“Let the saints write hymns.
We write truth in ash and bone.”
And I want to believe you.
I do. 

But tell me—
when the fire goes out,
whose name do you whisper
in the dark?

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Sijun Cui

As a poet, Sijun Cui (he/him) has been an active presence online for many years, creating an extensive collection of poetry and essays on diverse subjects. He has conducted in-depth research in poetry, fiction, and scriptwriting. Passionate about reading, critical thinking, and writing, his interests span a wide range of disciplines, particularly philosophy, science, religion, history, and sociology.

What distinguishes him is his innovative mindset, exceptional imagination, and profound wisdom, which have earned his works widespread admiration. He is also an avid sports enthusiast—a passion he developed during his university years.