Comes the Beast...

                                                What is this place, devoid of light
                                                where smothered hearts beat slow?
                                                Why comes this beast in darkest night
                                                to crush my spirit so?
                                                When loosed, its sinewed stranglehold
                                                upon a spirit lost?
                                                How freed from chains and fear untold
                                                a mind by tempests tossed?

                                                What dues are owed and must be paid
                                                before a soul can breathe?
                                                Why is the hand of justice stayed
                                                and naught to some bequeathed?
                                                When do life's scales true balance find ~
                                                angst offset by love?
                                                How best their qualities combined,
                                                those of the hawk and dove?

                                                What secret rules my destiny
                                                and from me knowledge hides?
                                                Why is the light I cannot see
                                                eclipsed by raging tides?
                                                When will come my sweet release
                                                and longed-for soft repose?
                                                How long will tears deny me peace
                                                and thorns betray the rose?

                                                What more to do; what tasks remain...
                                                what path as yet untrod?
                                                Why is the balm to soothe this pain
                                                not poured forth by my God?
                                                When will come what's keenly sought,
                                                yet silent for so long?
                                                How long before what darkness wrought
                                                surrenders to the dawn?