The Depraved Captive

It roars within, it prowls about,
With cunning lies, and forceful shouts,
It feigns a life autonomous,
although its threats are ominous

It feeds upon its helpless host
And to it's fragile captive boasts,
"You're mine, you'll do all that I will,
My ev'ry hunger, you'll fulfill.

"Where's your escape, where's your perfection?"
It taunts me with its vile inflections.
Is there hope to be set free,
Or will this always enslave me?

If my nature is to give in,
What hope is there if I can't win?
Is there more to my life than this?
Something forgotten, something missed?

My mournful musings seem to lift,
My foe's voice also goes adrift.
Caught in the deaf'ning thunderous sound
Of horses hooves upon the ground

But only one toward me strides,
A man in white upon him rides.
Dressed in the finest war array,
Yet slightly worn in by the day.

A mighty man, of fright'ning size!
"Who are you, sir?"  I ask, surprised
"Many men have called me 'Lord'"
He says as he unsheathes a sword.

I fall and tremble as I wait,
a cutting blow to seal my fate.
"Get up, my friend" his voice rings out,
"Why must you sleep with war about?"

I'm sure you're not looking for me,
We can't be friends, we're enemies!
"I've seen your toiling and your plight,
now will you join me in the fight?"

"This blade I use has served me well,
to plunder the kingdom of hell"
He bends to my bewildered gaze,
And in my hands, his weapon lays.

"What I have used, I give to you,
Now go and pierce your captor through!"

Fences

A treeless, flat, and desert land
Of rocks shrouded with dust and sand
Where visibility expands
Beyond what eyes can view
A weary pilgrim walks along
He from a distant land belongs
Without direction, right or wrong
Naively passes through.

He looks ahead to his surprise
A sight to soothe his thirsty eyes
A lake under expansive skies,
His mind soaks like a sponge.
His narrow eyes could not see past
The pond, he's running madly fast.
This jubilation will not last
After he takes the plunge.

This dark mirage, his mind inspired
His situation growing dire
He struggles, wriggling in the mire
With urgent ferver pleads.
Without delay, a Man about
Responds to nomad's horrid shouts
And without effort, pulls him out
Attending to his needs

He takes our friend to his estate
And brings him through a narrow gate
Presenting him a heaping plate
Beseeches him to eat.
Our friend surveys Where he abides
A pen eight long, and ten feet wide
with Strong Man's promise to provide
His basic needs to meet.

The monthly moon would wax and wane
As sedentary life restrained
Our nomad friend who then complained
And gazed across the fence.
Strong Man passionately implored
"I have all that you need and more
Please do not go beyond this door
These walls, your one defense."

Th pilgrim cried "I'll be bored blind!
My needs are met, but I can't find
an outlet for my nomad mind
I have no real relief
The Journey's worth a fateful slip,
A lion's roar, a jackal's yip
A painful sting, a break, a rip
Even a ruthless thief"

Strong Man replied "Please use your head
If you go out, you'd soon be dead,
You should've called for Me instead,
I'll show you what you've missed."
Then quickly He produced a spade
Incisions in the ground He made
He warmly to our pilgrim bade
"Follow Me, I insist"

He showed him to a shaft below
That led to awesome lands to go,
Great lands with rivers, mountain, snow.
To soothe the pilgrim's heart
"See, pilgrim, in my walls, delight
In them adventures come to light
No greater love, no sweeter sight,
From my bounds, don't depart."