Sleight of Mind

Your glittering eyes upon me gaze
And though I smile I know your ways;
You think my fragile mind to bend
To thoughts `gainst which I won't defend;

It is your will to bid me come
And dance with you to heartbeat's thrum
Beneath the stars on moonlit sand,
And reach out for your proffered hand.

You ask the flames to coil and sway;
In languid movements they obey.
You call the breeze to whisper warm,
Caress and tease my trembling form;
And in your eyes an inner heat
Is burning, calling, soft and sweet,

“O come with me, good Lady pure,
Thou fount of virtue, all demure,
And let me show you all the ways
To live more fully in your days,
To love more truly in your nights,
For here's a man who'll fight his fights
Defending honor, pure and true--
And, Lady, honor's found in you.”

And now you kneel upon the sand
And take in yours my gentle hand.
A blessed kiss upon its skin,
You hope, will start my heart to win;
And when you rise we'll stroll away,
And `neath a spreading palm we'll lay
To watch the full moon's zenith come
And to your charms I will succumb--

But there's one flaw you've seemed to miss
In your great scheme, and that is this:
This world you've made is all a dream,
Though you strove hard to make it seem
To be the truth, to be what's real,
To make me trust that what I feel
Is truly what I feel for you,
And what you feel for me is true;

It's all a lie, it's sleight-of-mind,
Your cunning plans were all designed
With wicked care, to make me think
Your world was real, so I would link
The thoughts you lay upon my mind
With truth, which I left far behind
When I first came into your realm,
Where you stood, Captain at the helm,
A dashing, brave, intrepid man
Who treads the path that none else can--

It's true, you did seduce me then;
I had no clue the fool I'd been.
You saw in me a weakness for
Adventure, risk, romance and more,
And, seeking pleasure in the name
Of fun, you led me to your game.

I willingly accompanied you,
Not knowing what you thought to do,
But now I see your true intent--
You love to wrong the innocent.
You led me through your darkened lands,
Fearing knives in strangers' hands;

You brought me love and made it pure,
Then tainted it with rank manure;
you gave me loved ones I held dear,
Then struck them down; your point was clear--
You made me think my sacrifice
Would keep me strong, and without vice;

You gave me gifts of endless wealth
And strength to render perfect health;
You made me out to be the one
Who saves the world when it's undone;
O yes, I was the caring soul
Who fought against the evil whole;
I was champion, savior, saint---
I alone contained no taint.

But all this power I possessed
Was in my mind; I never guessed
Until--too late--you'd wooed me o'er,
I found myself desiring more;
In dreams you had a husband's charms;
I smiled and let you in my arms,
But waking eyes now see your face
Above me as we fall from grace,
And I am horrified to find
A stranger's arms `round me entwined.

I do not know you, evil foe,
So touch me not; I bid you go.
I'll flee from you in truth and myth,
And hide `cross fire you wooed me with.
Your languid flames betwixt us burn,
While to your face my back I'll turn.
You aren't the honest man I saw;
I've found in you your tragic flaw.

You might have won, but for your cost:
The secret's in the soul you've lost.
A vessel, filled, reflects the sky,
But, hollow, has no proving eye.

I know you now, through fires hot,
For what you are, and who you're not.