Smooth plains of gray ground
Stretch far to distant light
Walking, I walked
Fear roared
Possessed to look back
My eyes forced not to
Fear came
Faster, faster
He was prepared to kill
Running, I ran
Closer, closer
I kept my distance
Looked to my feet, I did
Wearing away, they were
Blood attacked
Feet no longer carried me
Treading on ankles
I collapsed
Fear overwhelmed me
With a devastating touch
He disappeared
Awaken by morning light
I stood and noticed uncut feet

A hill before me
Blocked vision of further terrain
Not avoiding the obstacle, I climbed
Reached the top, I did
See a forest
Rock beneath me gave way
Tumbled down, stopped at the ground
Looking up, the hill is seen again
I, to my feet
Around this obstacle, I walked
Incline to my left
Incline to my right, appeared
I followed this turn till
Stopped I was
My marks in the sand
Lay before me yet again
Nonsense in confusion
I climbed once more
Viewing new terrain from atop the hill
I ventured to a swamp
There I treaded through marsh
Legs like weights slowing progress
The foundation of a tree brought me rest
Ripples on the water
Revealed seductive logic
Formed like a man and frog
He sought audience with me

"You look not like a champion"
"A champion I am not"
"Then a fool?"
"A fool takes one for a fool"
"Actions present evidence of…"
"Foolish thought"
"My words from your mouth"
"Then how is this thought renewed?"
"Only by your resourcefullness"
"This is gained in what manor?"
"Psychology in the trees that surround you
Strength in animals that lurk in your midst"
"All I need is to collect these things?"
"Perhaps, if the use of these you know
Still, hindrence from the Grawgs may come"
"Kill me will they?"
"Eat you they will"
"You’ve been a great help"
"Help you I have not
Confuse you I have"

Light of day soon past
My way was clear
As if a path directed me
A fallen tree became my bed
Awaken, I was
By a tickle to my nose
I swat, still it annoys
My eyes open seeing insects
Insects of light appearing friendly
My hand, I cupped
Lowered to them
A single ball of light
Before my eyes fading out of night
A little person filled me with delight
The voice in greeting was equally unique
It seemed to sing when she’d speak

"A stranger here you are"
"A stranger in need of pleasant destiny"
"You mustn’t stay her, the Grawgs come round"
"Lead me on will you?"
"Follow with quickness"

Pursuing her, she disappeared

"Up here, Up here"

Seeing her I climbed a tree and lied upon a branch
She fluttered above and spoke

"A wonder of sight you are
Here you will be safe
So we may meet again
Sleep, sleep, in peace, sleep"

Dust that twinkled as light
Sprinkled onto my head
To sleep I went

With a sharp pain to my side
I was again hit by the marsh
Returned to my senses my oppressor spoke

"Altered your fate an enemy has
I return you to destiny’s path"

This man as a frog an instrument in my defeat
In my defeat, I sat sulking
Now came the Grawgs
Stout fat images of darkness
From the marsh they arose
Surrounding me, I froze in fear
Each limb they grabbed and ripped
Ripped flesh from me
My struggle ended
Minds eye took control
Fear I overcame to stiffen my will
To myself I proclaimed invulnerability
Invulnerability to fear of Grawgs
Soon I was released
In fear of me Grawgs ran
On my way I went
Swamp quickly past
Through plains of grass I journeyed long
Burned by a red sun
Exhaustion pulled me to the ground
Covered in tall dry grass
Cooled, my skin was
Heaven found favor with me
Rain came, sky turned gray
Renewed strength took me on my way
Horizon of a forest was my path
Horses running
Running horses thunder at my side
I felt pain as they passed
Pain from an arrow
An arrow pierced through my leg
To find the enemy, I looked up
Removed the arrow, I quickly pursued
On horse he was, I on foot
An arrow meant for me I stabbed into the horse
Slowed it did, I pulled him off
In anger I beat him
To his senses I then shook him to speak

"Your reasons for this?"
"My master’s bidding"
"Your master?"
"The Jungle Lord"
"Take me to him you will"
"Have me go to him in dishonor will you?"
"A prisoner I will be to his eyes
Restraints for my hands?"
"Restraints look as if they bind you up"
"Then on our way we should be"

A forest as expected
Long walk we took to new dwellings
People with small stature lingered as peasants
Lords and Knights with high stature lingered proud
Proud as tall as the pines that surrounded
Stopped, we did
At a cabin fashioned with a throne

"A higher rank you show yourself worthy of"
"My great thanks to you my lord"
"Your purpose here stranger?"
"A journey to Destiny"
"Speaks Destiny, here is the end to your journey"
"A clone of Destiny speak, my true way ends not here"
"See you not yourself
A prisoner
A slave to me you are"

At that, my hands I stretched out

"Enslaved a mind never is
I see no restaints bidding me under your power"
"A fool you’ve made my Knight"
"A fool you make of yourself
There is no power to capture me"
"Take a sword as I take mine
Show you your weakness I will"

Clashing steel, we fought long
Till disarmed he was from the swiftness of my motion
To his knees he fell to beg
I spare his life

"Humiliation I now show to you
My intention is not to take your life
But to complete my journey"
"Intriguing I find this wisdom
At my side be placed to rule
Seek council with you, I will"

Many days friendship grew
Wisdom with caring a team we were
Respected I was as was he
Subjects loyal, truly honorable
The animals protection was our duty
A difficult duty done well
Security and peace lasted not
Destruction came with contentment
As Darkness flowed through with death
A successful diversion this was
And thus on my way I went

Again on desert plains I walked
To a village with homes as trenches
Trenches filled with women
Greeted with enthusiasm I was
Put into splendor, they caressed
Seduced I was in relentless confusion
Infatuation came in all her radience
Red shone her hair
Skin white as clouds, soft as silk
Mind still controlling the loins
Soon I marveled at her speech

"I see a pleasant sight
Honored we are to have you join us
Swift will you?"
"Swift I will, but no place have we here to swift"
"Why, hills await us"

A window drawn open
World of white land I beheld
The greatest enjoyment to me?
To swift

"Hills mustn’t wait long mistress"
"Swift we are atop mists of white"

Long were my feet with thin trails
Quick were my hips
Swift without rest we did
Till at an end I saw her in my arms
In this manner I retired
Minds eye opened through the heart
As does hers in this casual acquintance
Sharing hidden feelings
Deep trust
Sharing dreams, mistakes and frustrations
Intimacy
Sharing feelings in actions
Together experiencing a presence beyond words
Union
Sharing deepest secrets
Feeling and acting with united reaations
Feeling each others warmpth
We dare not move for fear of offense
Suddenly the experience is only a memory

"Will it come again?"
"Again it will come"
"Then I shall do what?"
"A kiss?"

A kiss
Instinct, desire to kiss
Letting feelings carry us on
Worry of consequence
This offense, will it change my goals?
Lust for love from her
Dreaded this thought I had
It could be my failure
Failure through this journey
Our days together long spent without a kiss
Till a day transition came, the kiss complete
Separate ways we went in the night
Summer’s humid breeze ended my sleep
Beheld, my eyes did a sight inconcievable
Alone again in a desert I was on my way

Sun burning sand into glass
Images appeared
Taunting me, infatuation lurked
Horizon faded into night
Welcome was this change at noon
Yet nights power darkened the soul
Infatuation came with final words

"I am for another"

With a crush to my chest
Love announced his presence
Sorrowful grief consumed my mind with envy
I see nothing but death in shadows of jealousy
Filled with anxiety I notice a sign of Darkness again
What loathes my body to hell but deciet?
Where are the feelings of joy?
Help me find the ease of torment

"Run, run I say
Do not let yourself be captured as I am"
"Taste the bitter fire that quenches your thirst
Die without hope and in grief"

Dare I say that I might feel tremors of wickedness
A rumble of scattered life
Life without meaning
Dead to mankind
Alive in refuge
Yet the foul stench of death
Clenches my lungs with heaving coughs of blood
I grip my throat but can not stop the pain
Blood gushes through me like a fountain
As the juices of life leave
The taste of death creeps onto my tongue

"Death, Death I say!
Death to you and all your descendants
Who have inflicted me
Death, Death be bold!"

And now I die
Content with the pleasure of curses on life

So, as dead was my body
Mind
Soul
Controlled me still they did
Unleash powers
Powers unattainable with the body
Powers in understanding
Understanding mysteries of altered dimensions
My love for greater power went beyond death
Through life of the body
Mind and soul see visions of time
Time as life
Life’s controller
All is time as times change
Yet time has always staid the same
Life?
Flurries of experiences
Augmenting mistakes
Hope?
To create a life worth living
To produce intelligence
Misfortune?
Unexpected situations
Past?
Regretted actions
Provoked by Evil
Evil?
Darkness’ father
Brother to love
Future?
Evil’s regress
Happiness?
Emotions of experienced goodness
Fate?
End of goodness and evil
Resulting in ultimate wisdom
The wisdom of loves twin
Eros, who is transgressed by Evil
Will all this knowledge take me to the end of my journey?

"Surely not!"
"Is this Darkness I here?"
"Desire has no dealings with Darkness"
"What have you for me?"
"Truth’s mistress"
"Truth I now have, a mistress he does not"
"You have deception
Born in the dim light of wickedness"
"By what power know you this?"
"Mistress of truth has innumerable powers"
"Have this mistress a name?"
"Cyprius is the only name for the daughter of Eros"
"How may I have Cyprius?"
"Cyprius is not to have but to win
Win by the overcoming of the second death"
"Show me the second death and I will overcome him"
"Continue on your way trusting no one
Now you are quite famous
And to most you are an enemy
Take patience at your side
By this you will be shown the second death"

Bright sun reflected on ripples of a stream
A stream separating me from plains of tall grass
I saw yonder a tree
At its base a women sat
A sight of immaculate beauty
Sweet sentiment, I gave
A compliment to beauty
In rejection she turns away
Why, I ask?
Can I not be noticed as I truly am
Reputation is all she knows, here’s and believes
My truth remains a mystery to her
Attempts I make
Attempts repeated
Attempts of no consequence
Doing his duty
Patience gave a reminder
On my way I go

A castle, I saw
At the gate stood a guard

"The ruler of this place I do seek audience with"
"Who is this that seeks audience with a ruler of this place"
"The keeper of nights powers
Esark adventurer of Darkness’ domain"

I waited
He returned

"Your presence has been expected"

Followed, I did
To a room of gold
A man. Fat with beard
Sat in the splendor of himself
At the head of a dining table

"Come, come, enter you will"
"What is this that I enter?"
"Why, do you not see who I am?"
"I see Self Indulgence"
"Call me what you must
Still you can not deny the goodness you see"
"I deny myself what can not be seen"
"What is this, a philosopher in my dwelling?
I will not have you before me a hungry man"
"I can not eat of such a travesty"
"You defy me?!"
"I defy the gifts of Evil"
"What manor of man is this?
That can defy himself"
"I am a conqueror"
"Conquer me you will not"
"Conquer you I have
You’ve been denied"
"So, I see your victory
This kingdom is yours"
"Your temptation does not siece
Accepting this would burden me from my journey
Reversing all I have accomplished
I leave you to your solace"

Lands of beauty I saw before me
A stream hidden by trees
I approached to find a water fall
What is this that hangs?
Garments hang from a bush?
Sight of a women came
Swimming as an undulation
It is her?
Whom I have seen beneath a tree not long ago
She comes, I hide
A pillar of immaculate beauty
Dressing curves of anointed flesh
At an instant I am entranced
From beneath me my feet are taken
An odd little one has done this

"Patience has left you, you stand in fear"
"I fear nothing little friend"
"You surely fear Cyprius, for why do you hide?"
"Awaken me from a trance you have"
"Then it is true
Esark, adventurer to all domains of Darkness
Sees his only fear and hides dumbfounded"
"You seem a wise little one
To pass this test what must I do?"
"What is in your mind I should not tell you"
"Enchant her then?"

Patience returns

"Don’t be foolish"

On my way night found me
Took me to sleep, it did, to be attacked
My torment was of no conseqeunce
Death comes, beckoning to me
I defy him
As now I defy the greatest of Death
The anguish of the soul
Asking why; my heart yearns from torture
More and more I depart from reality
I see Darkness dominating my existance
I take hold of Logic
Dark Logic strips my thoughts

"Reality! I beg you, return"

Further away I’m pushed by what is real
Into my fait, strikes a vicious blade
A jagged cut of the heart
Move furiously do my hands
Attempting to capture the blood that flows

"Help, Help!" I cry

No one is near enough to here
Yet, there is one
I speak out with my eyes

"Emotions, please!"

She responds not
Is this punishment or my oppressor?
Who damns me this way?
My muscles burn
Burning with exhaustion I clench my heart
Forcing it together, my strength is not enough
I see Emotion’s eyes looking into mine
With vengence they speak as my eyes harden

"I curse you!
You tell me another hand is all I need
Yet you pull back your own!
Life! I spit on you
With my last words I curse you to damnation among Death
With all strength remaining I strike at you!
You take my body, you rob me of my soul
What is left to lose?
Can contentment come from such a plague?"

Now I die, ending the agony
As I see the second death gone
My mind brings victory
The prize in victory?
Sanity, a gift for the wise
Insanity, the tool for victory
Better things come my way
Prolonging Spirit’s death

"Death, what must I do?
To receive your forgivness
I admit my stubborn faults
I give to you my mistakes, as I was taught
Now I ask. Not a request for me
But for Emotion, whose eyes I can not forget
She is worthy of a withdraw
From your dominion over life
I wish for her not to experience what I’ve been through
The curse upon you I proclaimed"

At an instant I see redemption
An unexpected result given by Eros

"Does this mean I’ve won, Eros?"
"The fight is not yet over
Failure lies ahead"
"As wisely said before
The battle has been won
Still the war goes on"

My heart is one again
On my way I go, never declining
Space, I saw
The cosmos
The interstellar universe
Space, I saw
Room to be free
Free without boundaries
Space, to choose freely
Space, I saw
For a person to be given a chance
A chance for Eros
Darkness announced his presence

"Your reason in all this?"
"Your ignorance astounds me"
"Ignorance viewing this world through your eyes"
"Defeated admit will you?"
"Defeated I admit not!"
"Go then to your doom"

I saw fear entangled in thorns
With my guard let down, Infatuation takes control
Let me see, her powers did
A future together with Cyprius

"Is this my passion?"
"Passion is of Eros
Desire this is"
"It seems Eros is despised by your kind
What is life without Eros?"
"From love life comes
From life Death comes
To love is death"
"What wisdom is in this knowledge?
Am I to die with only Desire at my side?"

In furies of past and future relationships
Enticed was my mind to rejection
Rejection of pleasure
Now the death of Passion is complete
Can I live in solace?
Or shall I die to the world?
Living in my own gratitude
I see Intelligence bound and gaged
Too powerful he became
Humbleness could not overcome his actions
However, Humbleness died without a fight
Guided to Darkness I was by Emotion
There I staid without remorse
In this place she was before me
Thinking, I thought I must
Stood in her sight I did when she spoke

"Been there long have you?"
"Long enough to find sense of mind"
"The new conqueror of Darkness’ domain lost sense in Cyprius?
You created me"
"As I’ve created you I create fear from you"
"This fear you speak of?"
"The love I can not have"
"You would deny me the purpose you created in me?"
"I deny myself of you
For, my purpose has changed"
"You wish for me to end?"
"No, it is I who must leave you"
"Then I will have you stay"

Sorrow, grief
Such feelings took my heart to sadness
Deep feelings uplifted by her touch
A touch turned to an embrace
Holding her, sorrowful feelings left
Turned and smiled she did
My heart raised to a height of joy
Holding me, she was
A cure for all ailments of the heart
Closeness, feeling each others warmpth
We dare not move for fear of loosing the moment
Suddenly the experience is part of the past

The moon, I saw
It glistened between the trees
Starring, I was again
In a world apart from reality
In imagination that wonders in the dark
I gaze into my mind
I see suffering
Suffering for moments spent breaking the barrier
The wall between Infatuation and Eros
Torn by Evil’s hand in a single action
Blinded, I was
By the complexity of my actions
The solution I wanted?
In the simplicity of my actions
Now I grieve
Grieving in the knowledge of a false future
Why is this?
It again happens
Slashing, slashing at my mind
He strikes, taking all logic from me
How is this that I still live?
Living in mangled flesh
In his hand I saw my mind
As he crushed my existance
I cry out to that whish only remains

"Spirit, Spirit!
Have you not already defeated him?"

A tiny flame ignited
Fueled as held with compassion
Compassion of the heart
Fueled again with a new Passion
Moments the flame grows in
Brief moments greatly cherished
A flame engulfed with terror
Terror of re-occuring sorrows
Doomed to fate am I?
More flames rekindled
Hopes of renaissance ignite a final flame
In this flame comes Fire
Yet Death holds me in a clench tightened by words
Words of the past, spoken without thought
Shall I be mute, to stop such words at my lips?
To rip out my tongue is my only survival
The blood used to sanctify my new well-being
Without speech why live in threat of new sorrow?
Hate
Lust
Greed
Vengence
Sorrow
Anger
Shame
Idiocy
Grief
These the generals in oppression
Attacking one by one
Again, again and again
Strength in Spirit defends me
Fire still burning
I stand firm, holding my position
Courage rejoins my fight

"Come now you evils
Come destroy all that is with me
Where is your glory now?
Have you no honor?"

Darkness arose with punishment for blasphemy
Is this my own blood?
Spilled throughout all lands
My flesh did wreak in terror
With my mind no longer with me
I heard Fire speak

"Joy, overthrow Sorrow’s rule
Patience, take Time to his place
Reality, slaughter Insanity
Passion, destroy Desire
Affection, annihilate Infatuation
Esark, by eternity you are given my power
Dominos f Eros you are"

Darkness knelt at my feet
All was well and my journey complete
Understanding I now had
In a forgotten lesson
A lesson in the salvation of a soul
Through the sacrifice of a man
Father to Fire he is my savior