The battle rages deep into the night
As I struggle against my unknown foe
Lurking is he somewhere in the shadows
Where is he? Who is he? What is it?
I continue in fear thinking of my true love
Who waits as the reward for victory
My shield and sword I wield to protect
With helmet and mask, armor on tight
I hear steps approaching, and I turn
A rustling as I tense, then silence
A faint voice calling as I listen,
A movement in the dark as I squint
A sudden bright light shocks my senses
I flail my sword out of pure reflex
Hearing a loud clang, relief comes over me
I’ve fended off the enemy for now
I walk on to encounter a wall
Turning left and then right I find the same
I retreat back, now enclosed within
My enemy a companion inside with me
The footsteps are close, so I swing
Then from behind, I twirl around
To the right, to the left, behind me and in front
More frightening and deafening the noise becomes
Within these walls I am doomed to die
Helpless I feel, why can’t I see?
Why don’t I know, what can be done?
No way out and no help, no power to choose
In despair I cry out, “What do you want?”
The voice, next to my ear, whispers to me
“Drop your weapon, your shield, your armor and mask”
Knowing death is near, I comply
The sword, the shield, the armor, the helmet
In defeat I surrender, taking in one last breath
As the mask comes off, light floods the room
To my utter surprise I come to see
My hidden enemy was me
The me I always wanted to be
My defense was my insecurities
The darkness my fears, the walls my memories
It was my hand-crafted reality
I built especially for me
While the me I wanted to be
Was trying to break through to my heart
I fought for years, struggling in the dark
I only won when I surrendered
When I let go of what I held dear
I had the power before, I did not know
A long time to learn, to become
But the reward was worth the pain
I conquered my biggest enemy, which was me
So I could be prepared for you
–Jason Westlake
April 2005
