Temptation

Round 1
It was a dark night,
And black.
A night were everyone
Looks in.
Windows are mirrors,
No one looks out.

Nothing seems right.
I'm being watched,
By something
I cannot see.
It's tempting me,
I think.
I talk to myself,
Or does it?

On a night like tonight,
I grab my knees.
I curl into a ball
And sit
In the corner.
They cannot be seen,
But I feel their words.
I shiver.

In an empty room,
I cower in the corner.
The lights are on,
It's dark.
The room must be full
now
I'm pressed
into the corner.

I hear a voice,
a bright voice,
a soft voice,
a hopeful voice.

No.
I must be dreaming.
Darkness presses in.
The light grows
dimmer.
The darkness gets
heavier.
I shrink.

That voice!
The light brightens
I like that voice,
But I ignore it.

The light flickers,
Darkness crushes
me.
I've never been
so small.
I've lost all hope,
I'm giving up.
All is darkness.

All is voices
Muttering, scheeming,
Hating, killing.
I'm almost dead.
The light is black.
I see nothing,
I hear nothing,
I feel nothing.

I remember,
that voice.
I want to hear it,
one last time.

But the light is out.
I can't see
the switch,
I can't stand.
They squeal with delight.
The sound hurts my ears.
I was weak,
I ignored the light.

-Ben Ankenmann
Date: November 9, 2007
Location: Ottawa

Round 2
Temptation number two
I can feel you in the room
I feel the darkness surrounding you
And I fear impending doom.

I know I could give up
And not even try to fight
But I also know a tougher man
Would not forget the light.

I know this wont be easy
You'll try to lock the door
But now I know He can release me
And lift me off the floor.

The pressure of your darkness
Forces the only door to close
A feeling of hopelessness
Seeps through my skin and clothes

And even though I know your name
And know the light could win
I don't want to show my shame
To this glowing light within

So I fight on without the light
After the door is locked
And in the dark of evil night
Temptation watches the clock

You knows that it's only time
Between now and when I fall
Without my light the clock will chime
And on my knees I'll crawl.

Without a light I'll try to fight
From my knees I'll grab the door
But the door is already bolted tight
All hope is gone, I'm on the floor.

And Temptation smiles in glee
Another battle won
Another wretched victory
He calls me names like "faithless one".

Now in my shame and hurt I lie
Still hiding from forgiveness
My guilt beside me piled high
From light I want to hide this.

I hate myself, I hate my guilt
But I know that that is wrong
This temptation that I have built
Is now extremely strong.

Around the corner is number three
And I know I'm in his sights
So I'll unlock the door and hide the key
And release the power of light.

And next time when temptation comes
He'll be knocked right off his feet
And the power of God's only Son
Will fight and rescue me.

-Ben Ankenmann
Date: January 7, 2008
Location: Ottawa

Round Three
The foe I fight is unearthly strong
(He is coming)
He is the darkest of dark nights
In all he does he fights for wrong
He's a beam of anti light

The 'prince of evil' he's called in hell
(He approaches)
He has two hands of horrid death
Blackened bones of wretched smell
Hands with power to cease breath

The cloak he wears is oft called sin
(He is near)
His eyes shine with blinding darkness
They shine nothing but hate within
The eyes light detests

The door is locked in the same old room
(He enters now)
Because temptation needs not a key
I only think impending doom
Can I ever have victory?

But now time stops, I remember the Light
(He does not move)
It has no being but lives inside
It will trump the darkness tonight
It will the battle decide

Now I pray and the Light begins to emit
(Temptation steps)
The room is filled not a shadow cast
But temptation Light will permit
My battle is not yet past

I must fight and win for Light this victory
(He now attacks)
I stand my ground and raise my shield
A blast of lust, defense becomes debris
My broken arm Light heals

I turn to face by deadly foe once more
(He shoots again)
Pride splits my helmet in two
Despite my will, I stumble to the floor
Light my strength renews

I stand again with valid righteous hate
(He laughs)
And plunge my sword right through his heart
His terrifying anger builds, his eyes are now irate
My body he tears apart

I call the name of my redeeming conqueror
(He trembles)
And a light so bright overpowering came
That true blackness felt pain and horror
Temptation writhed in pain

The light so bright i cannot see stands guard
(He flees)
He puts me together and all my wounds he heals
He cures each and every death-black scar
Through Him my victory's sealed

I thank my Lord and I open the door
(He's gone)
Outside the air is fresh and clean
I dance in the wind, breathe deep once more
For I feel alive in His light, so alive
His light that is living in me.

-Ben Ankenmann
Date: January 13, 2008
Location: Ottawa