Night's Behest

In shade we bathe in worry and unrest
Our fury bound behind a stony wall
With cloven hoof and tongue of flame unbless'd
The serpent slinks within these shadowed halls

The rivers of the night o’er gardens sweep
Like horses wild, from mortal chains set free
Wicked course through darkened roots doth creep
And drink their fill of foul iniquity

The unclean cometh, yet no blood doth stain  
His snowy coat, nor horn as white as bone
Are we to fall upon his blade of pain
Or choose to bleed and make the choice our own?  

Canst thou not hear? The shadows softly cry
"Come, yield to night, to guilt and dark desire
Temptation lures thee forth, where thou shalt die
And in its grasp, be drawn unto the fire."  

Beneath a veil of black, we sink in sin
In decadence, we writhe, though low and stil
A solemn power stirs from deep within
And blood doth spray, with none to stop the spill

It cleanseth hearts of all their burden’d grief
But longing leads our souls from light astray
Thine eye, a mirror, void of false belief
Reflects the truth that naught can turn away

Hearken, now—dost thou hear its whispered call?  
"Come, yield to night, to guilt and dark desire
Temptation shall, in time, consume thee all
And to the flames, thy spirit shall retire."