Temptation

-----------------------------------------------------

The Dark Man
has
captured the children.

He escaped
down a narrow,
twisting
flight of stairs.

A gnarled,
termite infested
piece of oak
is all I can find for a weapon.

The bitter taste of
fear
mingles with the
sweet nectar of
pursuit.

I begin my chase.

The cellar is dank and musty.
Cobwebs linger
on my face like a tender caress.

Huge rats squeak and scuffle past me.

As I run through the maze,
I find more hallways
and doors,
each exactly like the last.

Despair holds me like a cold friend.

I am sticky, hot,
and exhausted when
I stumble into
the last hallway.

A red doorway
stands in stark relief
amidst
her black brothers.

I know they are here.

Leaning into the
door I hear their
innocence

whimpering
to me,

whispering
for help.

Throwing open the
door I find the
children

kneeling
at an altar made of coal.

Towering over them is the Dark Man.

I swing my piece
of wood as hard,
as fast
as I can.

I intend to kill him.

But
as I'm swinging

His eyes catch mine.

They are

beautiful,
peaceful,

loving.

His black beard
black hair
are inviting

Sexy.

His lips
His smiling lips
are
wet
comforting
knowing.

Right before
my wood
cracks

open

His skull
and
spews his matter

DARKNESS

I awake -

perhaps minutes
perhaps eons-
later.

I feel his beard
caressing my
cheek and his breath
warm on my face

as he nuzzles my lips.

I remember
vaguely
that I was upset about

something.

I recall
feeling animosity
toward him.

But, I realize that
I must have been mistaken
and I

confess my love.