The Devil I've Become

What card are you?

I am the Fifteenth Arcana
   He who feasts on your bones
Would-be sovereign of your soul
   Captain of your woes

You'll find me entrenched within
   Perched atop the altar
Upon which you offer me every weakness
   To ever make you falter

I am the urges of the flesh
   The thorn that pricks your pride
Ruler of your every perversion
   A darkness from which you cannot hide

My voice shall whisper in your ears
   Beckoning, tempting you with doubt
Casting you in the chains of lust
   Enslaving you to things you cannot live without

I am the reflection of your inner self
   Inverted pentagram; a crown of pain
Bearer of the hellfire torch
   Within your virtues burn, slain

Slave to me you'll be until your last breath
   If it is apathy that you so choose
Bound in servitude to the avatar of the seven
   'Tis only everything you have to lose

I am the shadow that walks beside you
  The desires that you hide
Master of the Lovers
  The despair that lives inside

The light of hope cannot blind me
  Nor darkness chase me away

Every saint is also a sinner
   Awaiting the call of judgement day

In all this I have told you
 Given you omens of my approach
  I might have been like you once
   A long, long time ago
    But now I am undone
     By the Tower and the Twins
     So too the Priestess
    You see Death always wins
   Destiny has had its laughs
  For now I've joined the others
 Turned a monster like them all
Such a long hard way to fall

    I am the Fifteenth Arcana
           He who feasts on your bones
 I am the poison in your mind
       For The Devil I've Become...
        

Author's Note

Inspired by a new book series I've been introduced to, a card, a quiz, my best friend, and my own personal demons. This piece has become the spiritual successor to my old poem, "The Demon That Is He". Indeed I consider this its big brother.

Captcha: Scareful

Reviews

[lost girl]

I have been told that there are two cards of my birth - Death & The Emperor. I am fascinated by your well written piece. I try to keep a balance of light and darkness within me. I fear that if I linger too long in either i will not fulfill my destiny and move on. I am indeed soulful as I suspect are you. I am thankful to find your writings today for both learning and leisure. I shall be back to read more.

[Caradoc]

Again, thank you. I am glad that you were able to glean something meaningful from my writing. An artist is always grateful to hear that his work is appreciated.

[KWP]

I love this .. a great representation that with have it ALL inside us ... all of it ... the darkness, the light, the woven the unwoven.

You writing is really incredible ... well done xx

[Caradoc]

Thank you very much. It's nice to know that others enjoy my writing.

[Rob Santana]

This is sick to the max!! I love it man. You have a way with words that just amazes me Caradoc. I think this devil has followed me my entire life, or rather I've submitted to this entity. What a masterpiece in my eyes, flows like reading from a sacred book......well done indeed.

[Caradoc]

Thank you so much for this review. And man do I get it. He's riding shotgun with me at the moment.read moreThank you so much for this review. And man do I get it. He's riding shotgun with me at the moment.

The Devil card represents our dark desires, obsessions with the material world, and the monkey on our backs that weighs us down and prevents us from embracing the light; from being everything good that we could be. I've read though if we have a mind to, the chains are just loose enough to throw off and that torch just bright enough to find our way to someplace better.

Thanks again for the wonderful review. I'm glad you enjoyed this piece.