the devil you know

the click and the whir

the beat of the drum

eager emotions are stirred

for the sake of good fun

then comes a step

and a half after that

the feel of something wet

and the devil

breathing down my back

He says, "watch this"

as another flies right past

"reach out your hand,

this chance will not last"

Then I reach out and I grasp

and my claws

they sink

they grip

and they gasp

The devil had won

and there was a price to be paid

crushed by the weight

of expectations unmade

The battle was lost

but the war was not yet

because even if the devil never tempted me

I still would have said yes

In some ways,

he's just like an old friend

showing you things

you wish would really end

And at times,

he's the enemy you find

something to fight when life doesn't rhyme

Most of all,

he's a challenge to beat

a mountain to climb

when the world sings of defeat

He's a rival of mine

The biggest I know

And I'll get up in his face and say

"I'm better than your hope."