It.

I. Discovery

When I was young I sallied forth into the Great Unknown.
I looked for wonders, truths, and thoughts that I had not been shown.
I came upon a pyramid, a tomb of some great king,
And then I thought I’d venture in, just to see the thing.
I wandered down the flights of stairs, deep and deeper still
I would not turn back despite the risk, and I kept on until
I found a crypt encased in stone, and I could not stop my mind
Thus I moved the heavy slab and within It I did find.
As my terror rose and rose, I glanced above my head.
There I saw a warning, and this is what I read:

“A fool, a Fool, that’s who you are, to open this tomb and come this far
You can’t go back, the seal’s not whole, It shall latch on, invade your soul
You can’t escape, you cannot flee, It’s a part of you for eternity
Now thou art Doomed to live no more, for It’s got you to your very core.”

I realized my error, but not in time.
I’d gone too far and done the crime.
I did not shout, I did not wail.
I did not cry, I only fail.
I turned and ran, but It was too fast.
It haunted my future, It cursed my past.
And for all my years It came with me
For It was my eternity.

II. Pursual

Where could she be? She’s always late.
She should be here! Perhaps It’s Fate?
Oh here she comes! Oh, now she’s here.
I’d wished for more! No more, I fear.
I can’t have more! That can not exist.
Why should I try? I shan’t persist.

And then It struck, and I was hit, I’d forgotten all I’d learned,
And how I screamed, within my mind, and how my heart was burned!
I should not have stopped! I should not have quit! But the damage had been done.
And thus It hit me, once again, and again I began to run.

It followed me still, as I ran, I could not escape Its' wretched plan.
Thus I jumped into the Sea, hoping that Death could protect me.
But It was there in that kingdom deep, my soul It sought so It could reap
And though I swam and fought and tried, even still It never died.
On and on It came until, I realized why It haunted still.

III. Defeat

The tired old man rocked his rocking chair, as he always did.
The child walked up and asked the man, for the boy was just a kid,
“Oh wise old man, what have you seen, in this great world of ours?
Have you touched the sun, rode comets far, and lived among the stars?”
But the old man merely nodded, to this child so young,
And in his tender, tormented voice a dirge is what he sung:

Oh dear child, my lovely boy, how naïve you are.
You just can’t see the terror of that oh so distant star.
You have not see the Sun up close and been blinded by Its' light.
You haven’t tried to fight the sky and been beaten every night.
You’ve got what all these people seek, you just don’t know It’s true.
But you’ll lose the gift, as do we all; that day you’ll often rue.
You wish advice? I have a bit, though It’s difficult to hear
It’s just a temporary patch on a black hole, I fear.
Escape, sweet child, escape escape, escape into your world.
Not mine, not hers, not Its’, but yours, that’s where your joy is curled.
Escape somehow, beautiful child, escape into the sea.
Escape escape escape escape, but don’t stay here with me.
I’m old and tired, cemented here, I can run no more.
It’s coming for me, and now, at last, I can finally lose this war.
I must remain to accept the truth, no matter what the pain,
But there’s still a chance for you, dear boy, so escape from the sane!
Escape into joy, Escape to the sky,
Escape into others, Escape til you die.
Escape forever and a day, escape until the Angels say
That you’ve escaped your life away and no more must you escape, I pray.
Escape to Heaven, Hope, and Lies and laugh until this old man dies.
Escape from all the ‘who’s’ and ‘why’s” escape from all our anguished cries.
‘Escape’ my last advice to you, escape from It, and from me too…

I want It, I need It, I must have It forever.
I shun It, I forsake It, I think I’m oh so clever.
I lament It, I mourn It, yet It cuts me through and through.
Where is It, Why is It, What is It to you?