The Mirror

She knew since she could remember

The demons that stalked her very soul

the hands that swiped her, didn't like her

being always cautious took its toll.

As she grew and became stronger

she wondered if she could stand and fight

but the preacher, said the creatures

had the power and they had the bite.

Only God, he claimed, could banish them

all she had to do was ask

so she implored him, did adore him

but her pleading only burned to ash.

So she ran frantic through the forest

the anger raged inside her heart

the holy assurance, the fire insurance

tore her skin cruelly apart

She knew the floor of the black forest

she had a mental map of the land

the slashing claws, the snapping jaws

the red raw skin whispered a plan

She raised her eyes hopeful through the canopy

and followed the journey of the sun

she broke through briars and the liars

she left behind most everyone.

She chased the light till after midnight

then she rested against a log

the heavy breathing, slowly receding

by morning the sun had lifted the fog.

She ran fast, thoughts of survival

was always in her mind

the thoughts of living, of the forgiving

for those who's intentions were unkind

She finally made it to Paradise

she lost the demons in the east

 here in the west, she felt so blessed

to have finally found her peace 

She lived with joy, she lived with zest

she became the one that she had dreamed

she found her smile, the entire stockpile

she knew her soul had been redeemed

Then in a moment, it all had crashed

what did she ever do so wrong

she looked at God through his facade

and knew this was her sad swan song.  

She headed east, she never doubted

demons waited for her return

they'd been refining and even pining

she recalled the heat of the burn

She touched down surrounded by hills

the mountains she knew so well

her breath a gasp, she was home at last 

immediately locked inside her cell. 

She heard their echos in the distance

good to see you, welcome back

she shivered slightly, waited nightly

in the cell painted deathly black 

In the dawn she calmed a little

things weren't as scary as they seemed

the faded scars, her memoirs

perhaps was only in her dreams.

Then in a moment she slowly turned 

and what she saw, it stopped her breath

her own expression, in that reflection

then she wished for the mercy of death.

The final truth, the naked honesty

she begged God "don't let me see"

her heart in lockdown, her soul a showdown

in tears she whispered "the demons, they were me"