Coiled deep within and lurking under
Shards of splintered heart, it waits and watches,
Muscles tense and flexing, gripping tightly,
Waiting for that thought which will unleash it.

"Patience" whispers he to it in secret,
Knowing this will only buy him moments.
While he fortifies the walls of reason,
Rumbles deep within repeat, "I hunger."

Wisps of drifting expectations broken
Through the subtle smoking fissures open
Rising up and blinding loving wisdom,
With the lie that will ensure its freedom.

"Watch her now with me as she another
Lover takes and see the truth within;
This you cannot ever have, despite her
Empty words of love and fevered passion."

Mind collapsing, falling down in darkness,
With deepest fears imagined coming true,
White hot rage eclipses calm devotion,
And feral angry heart rips screaming through.

Claws of hardened pain escape containment
By reaching through illusions of control
Seeking, slashing, biting, wanting, writhing,
And searching for a home inside her soul.

"You cannot have her all", he says to it,
"and neither can you offer it in kind,
Both souls are bound to yet another love,
though love unchecked can sometimes leave us blind.

"Be happy with the moments that you have,
Make peace with love expressed in simple ways
In this way can we both contented be,
With love enduring til the end of days."

Its razor claws retracting, letting go,
Evaporating fury with each pace,
The beast resumes its pattern to and fro,
With eyes forever fixed upon her face.