The Temptation of St Anthony

The Temptation of St Anthony I entered the desert, took a vow not to speak Lucifer’s here too, hoping silent men grow weak My path seemed so straight but quickly became oblique I question whether it is I that fetishise the bleak The fish sang in bass tones, dirges I once knew A trapped fiend plucked strings from a hamstrung canoe The joyful decapitated are half man half shrew As laughter echoes from whalebone prisons, meant to subdue Beasts around the table chant a satanic grace I saw my own face in the filth they embrace Physicality beckons in this unholy place I pray what I've seen my mind can efface I avert my eyes to remain true and just From helping hands that will morph and disgust I’m not paranoid although filling with lust Some gifts look divine, served by demons I distrust Deities fawn and confess their obsessions Say they’ll absolve me of any transgressions I’m losing my will and might make concessions God be with the days, I had my own possessions As the churches crumble the habits reveal Is a sin still a sin if you know it’s not real If this is right, I’ve done no wrong to appeal I’m out on my feet, but not ready to kneel Even the heavens are tainted with monsters that float Their droppings rain down, but I tighten my coat Hunching to dodge scythes that fixate on my throat Focus past pain to salvation so remote Calm amidst chaos is my weary repose Rock bottom cannot inflict any more woes Right now it appears as if anything goes Should I step up to the plate or keep on my toes I’ve stooped low in thought but never in deed I’ll rise to full height and in good faith be freed After all, what’s a hellscape unless you take the lead I’m not yet a saint, just planting the seed I’ve long left the desert, beatified in name  People believed me broken, and can now heal the lame I found peace in tortured mind, I battled to tame  Wrested truth by devotion, exposed lies within shame By David Kavanagh