Terra Incognita

I didn’t listen to his words Even though, in my heart, I heard When he told me I was a hypocrite I found myself praying for God’s intervention For the assurance that I wasn’t being A hypocrite – a fraud, a phony I wasn’t someone who was just pretending To love the Savior, my whole world The answer to my every anxiousness The reason for every hope I had ever had I didn’t listen to him when he said You’re a hypocrite – You’re not saved But I found myself searching my heart Turning over each thought, every motive All the reasons I had for not giving into The things he wanted – his desires, his hunger The greed that was something he flaunted Even though he accused me, in all truth It had been his continual urgency for more – more Urging me to go above and beyond my power That caused me to disregard his final demands I didn’t listen to him or his accusations I soon found my sympathy for him wavering… Although I had always been one of his supporters I found myself – terra incognita now Unable or unwilling to let go of my plans To give in to his claims, his pressure, his petitions I realized, finally, that his complaints, his blaming Had brought me to the rude awakening… It was not me at all – He was the double-dealer Of his allegations… his finger pointing came full circle To the man he saw in the mirror, in his reflection! This or That, Vol 13 Poetry Contest Sponsored by: Edward Ibeh Terra Incognita August 8, 2022