Grinning Phantom

The phantom unclasps its long, dark tendrils while a buxom maiden sings with her minstrels In the shadows it moves like billowing smoke While the jester poses riddles to the king in his cloak Silently slithering like a slick and sinewy snake Surreptitiously scattering spiders for Satan's sake They weave the phantom's web like an unseen trap They catch and consume men as fast as a clap Carcasses of the fallen are strewn across the floor Some were unknown and some were heroes of lore Prideful and vain, they walked right into a snare The phantom grinned while they said their prayers Let them be examples to to those of us not taken Let us walk with humility, steadfast and unshaken Shine your light in the shadows and shapes will shimmer Learn as much as you can and let the lessons simmer The phantom recoils at the glimmer in our eyes It dries up and withers when God is our ally When we listen to the wisdom of those who came before We dodge its greatest weapon and send it out the door But, it lives on in the coolest shade and warm winds Evading our senses and the light we use to cleanse Hiding in the corners and crevices of the universe Waiting to steal our blessings and replace them with a curse If we aren't careful it will creep into our lives Using all our secrets in its hidden archives So shine your light in the permeating dark Let it be a stark reminder, a touchstone, and a hallmark