The Demon in the Dark
In
darkness I stride
My
sorrow takes flight
Seeking
a source of light
When
what to my fright
Should
enter my sight
A
demon with which I collide
What
traveler are thee
It
asks in my ear
Its
whisper fills me with fear
It's
been many a year
Since
I've seen thee here
Why
have you now come to me?
I'm
lost, I reply
'Tis
not you I seek
But
strength for when I am weak
It
lets out a shriek
Such
a horrible freak
I
must turn away my eye
How
dare you come now
To
enter my lair
This
place of woe and despair
I
bid you beware
I
see everywhere
Your
departure I'll not allow
And
then I am strong
So
I tell the strange beast
It's
not on my flesh you'll feast
I
will not be ceased
No
not in the least
And
I will continue along
Is
that what you think?
It
asked with a grin
I
will show you your sin
Now
come, let's begin
For
I am your twin
And
it's your blood I will drink
Stop
now, hold fast
Say
I to the troll
I'll
not stay in this hole
There's
hope in my soul
And
o'er you I'll roll
Until
this horror I'm past
It
laughs with a smile
And
says yes brave are you
Though
passed here have only a few
'Tis
lies that you spew
You
shall not pass through
And
with me you'll anguish a while
Steeled
I become
I
will not, I say
Now
move yourself from my way
For
'tis on this day
I
walk from this fray
You
evil creature so dumb
Scared
it does seem
At
the sound of my word
Suddenly
seeming absurd
Its
power deferred
The
scene suddenly blurred
My
self I'll finally redeem
Go
then, you fool
It
says, you'll return
And
with me your soul will burn
It's
your evil I spurn
Say
I, with a turn
As
I depart from the ghoul
A
return could be true
To
the place in the dark
Such
may be my life's arc
In
contrast so stark
Though,
my light it will spark
To
illuminate my hope anew
So
fleeing, I run
From
that place so deep
The
ogre ne'er my soul shall keep
No
more tears shall I weep
And
'tis over the heap
I
climb out into the sun.
© J.J. Goodman
2014. All rights reserved.