ahead of her she sees the glittering road
divide, as the tongue of a serpent
and the damp, warm aroma
so enticing in its seduction
lures her in from the cold of adolecense

the Devil’s eyes are staring through her
at her undressed body
at her naked bones
longing for a taste of innocence
as He has become accustomed to
and as He is entitled to
as long as we let Him

the path is no longer paved
with bricks, nor cemented
no longer the familiar
but instead
she descends into a world of the unknown
a fragile mind retreats
and armor, constructed from her fear