Nemesis
"I'll take you," said Lopez, "to the man who
"has tormented you since you were 42
You'll see his face, you'll get to speak—
"But don't try anything, he's strong and you're weak."
So we went down the big hall, to the underground caves
We went miles into the caverns, under old graves
And there was nemesis, not like a TV show
He spoke like a child, with a strange mad glow.
He looked thin and young, innocent with no guile
But there was something gone, missing in his smile
He could torture you for ages, as an joyful afterthought
A part of his soul gone, in that vacuum I'd been caught.
I lunged at him, hoped to grab his neck
A gas knocked me out, left me quite the wreck
I awoke in my bed, leg twisted and sore,
Lopez stood silent, eyes fixed on the floor.
I grabbed Lopez, I said "Thanks anyhow"
"I imagined someone else, but I know now"
"It's the splintered mind, the fracture inside
For his broken brain I had to take my dark ride."
Lopez just nodded: “Evil comes in all forms.
"If they notice you, you’re a boat in a storm.
"Life’s more dangerous than people believe—
"Evil morphs and will always deceive."
I could swear Lopez's hard face was wet
I was hoping he could help, a way out yet
But he said "It’s too late—no hope in sight"
And he left me to my horror show, the sky an angry white.
Copyright © Gideon Oknin | Year Posted 2025
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