The Beast

I thought the phrase "Don't feed the beast" was original when I thought of it. Alas, it's pretty common. So after changing the poem's title, I let it flow, as I enjoyed this ancient theme. 

You don't know his image, you don't know his name
Yet he influences your life ... just the same
He broadcasts TV news, and songs from the devil's muse
Yet he will promise safety and comfort – that is the ruse
He undertakes clandestine deeds, from sunset to sunrise 
You share some daily views ... that is the surprise 
He resides in the outer world, creating madness and mayhem 
He reflects the mirror of inner worlds – in every woman and man
You have known of the legacy, you surely know the folklore
The beast is always hungry; the beast needs more
And more
 
The beast needs to consume every day and every night
The beast needs to ground every heavenly flight
The beast needs to sear every ear, and blind all eyes 
The beast thirsts for the blood on the battlefield of lies 
The beast is your friend right up until the end of time
Until he takes everything that is yours, ours, and mine
The beast sits in waiting behind every darkened door
The beast is always hungry; the beast needs more
More and more
 
And where is this hunger satisfied and how is he fed?
Be astonished, the source rests upon your bedfellow’s bed
Like sugar for cancer, he eats treats for sweet diseases
Like water damage in hidden crevice, he does as he pleases
Your anger is his appetizer, it garners his fine favor 
Your addictions to gluttony, booze and blow he loves to savor
Revenge, suppression, and enmity help fulfill his demands
Procrastination and porn call out for idle hands
Just as theft and taxes feed the famished government machine
Just as false prophets soil the sacred into the obscene
Just as flies venture into spider webs only to be caught
We must awaken to the folly of the dance that must stop
Must stop!
 
The beast has needed to consume every day and every night
The beast has desired to ground every heavenly flight
Yet, the beast collapses, defeated, when abandoned on distant shore
The beast will not be hungry when there is nothing more
The beast will succumb – left deaf, blind and dumb
When you stop in your tracks, and choose … to cease to run
The beast will starve when he is no longer provided his share 
Poisoned by the illumination that comes from your self-care 
Lick the wound, heal the heart, unite in light, soothe the sore
And then study war, draw swords, and feed the beast no more
No more
No more