Who or what is the beast?

The Beast

The beast in the dark cave is restless
It howls and growls and lures me
Gusts of air swirl and churn
The muse’s hands gently push upon my back

The beast is wild and ferocious
Others become silent, tasks go undone
It demands my attention in the early morn and late into the night
It does not let me sleep
I am weak and weary

The beast taunts me
I venture into the black void to wrestle it
It snorts and snarls and draws me deeper
Our struggle is endless, often futile

It craves every bit of my time, every ounce of my strength
It warns me of all I must endure while it entraps me
I feel the magic infuse me
And the power that will scorch my soul

A caress and words that flutter in the dark calm it
A tamed beast will sprout wings
And let me soar into the sky upon its back
It will take me to places that I cannot imagine
But that I know and have seen