The Devil Inside

There is a devil that lives inside me

A devil that only I can see

It haunts my thoughts reminding me

Of what I can't seem to be

I hide, I run and I work the best course

Knowing not its source

I blame my parents, friends and choices

Anything to quiet noises

I run rather afar then grow bored still

Unable to find the will

Trying to plod along like so many before

Comes as such a chore

I fight back, work and find success anew

Satisfying all but you

To give up and float often seems rather nice

A grave danger in that vice

So I carefully plod along in secrets light

In this life's eternal fight

Hiding in plain sight is what I must do

From all but just a few

Until I find the true success ever more

And earn a rest in store

In time I see the world as it really truly is

And finally get to the gist

That nobody gets to walk this life alone

With no devil known

As peace begins to fill my battered soul

I drink far past full

I feel fat, happy, warm and without worry

In life's not final story

A truce for now is a dream like no other

A ship's dormant rudder

Calms quiet whisper be ready just the same

If sky turns to rain.

Nicholas Campos - October 2024