So it was, in morning’s palm
that Beast crept upon a man
in the blessed morning light
as Man rested by a pool
and fought himself throughout the night
Man dreamed a god, so gilt yet cruel
as to cast the merely doubtful
from His beneficial sight

With love, I think I killed you
spoke the lovely beast, and cried
With love, I think I killed them
as Beast laid down upon its side
and moaning, in its fever
To the heavenly, I lied
This was never caused by greed
or goals
or contempt for the risen souls
nor even by the temptress, Pride

Speak plainly, please, foul beast,
foul snake,
For thee, the least in heaven shake
and mutter in their golden breaths
a prayer for you to take your rest
A final rest, depart, I beg
leave this place
and leave my head.

And in return its rumbling sigh
of death and sorrow he received
as a warning- despair not, nor cry
if for this Beast you truly grieve
and then Man saw its terrible claws
and Man felt its terrible breath
How he shuddered, oh, he wept!
for he looked into its terrible eyes
The eyes of Man, once a Beast, once-
far more than just a beast
How he shivered, robbed of warmth
from the cold of his own grave kiss
and in anger,
struck the water with his fist
and prayed the image was a lie.