The Demon
I've been to the top of the mountain
I've surveyed the valley below.
I've heard the mountaintop call me,
I've felt the icy wind blow.
I came down from the mountain
Feeling exalted and free.
It's when I got to the bottom;
That's when my demon grabbed me.
He said, "One drink surely won't hurt,
Let's hit a strip club or two--
We'll get sloshed, then we'll find some drugs
You know, like we always do."
I lost that euphoric feeling
The mountain had given to me,
So I took a seat with my demon
And drank--that's my insanity.
"This still isn's low enough,"
He whispered in my ear.
"Let's dig us a hole in the ground."
He handed me one more beer.
I started drinking and digging
Scratched up, dirty and sore.
I hit a rock and thought I was done
But my demon wanted more.
His seductive manner altered,
He started lashing out at me.
He said, "I own you; body, mind and soul.
I shall never let you be free."
I wiped away the dirty sweat;
Wearily, I chipped the stone.
My demon handed me a drink
And made me dig alone.
I dug my hole for many years
I forgot the mountain air.
My demon laughed while I cried,
He clearly didn't care.
"I've had enough!" I screamed one day.
My demon turned in shock.
I stared at him through bloodshot eyes.
"I can't dig through one more rock."
I kicked him down; began my climb
Back out of my abyss
I heard the demon howl in rage,
And then I heard him hiss.
I scratched, I clawed, I cried and prayed
Never once did I look down.
Every time the demon tried to speak,
I swiftly kicked him down.
The hole is well behind me now
I've started on mhy climb,
I'm going to the mountaintop,
If only one more time.
D H Loewen
Copyright © David Loewen | Year Posted 2018
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