The Poem

The Greedy Maelstrom

The greedy maelstrom hapless souls devour
Which once in innocence demurely thrived.
In venturing close to view the dark abyss,
Attractive force increased seductive pull.

So slowly pulled, they sensed no movement toward
Destructive depths and strode with querying steps
And certain pace the pleasant, early path.
Too soon the inner pull o’ercame their sense,

Too late the knowledge of impending doom,
Too strong the lure of passioned fruit denied,
Too weak the strength that calls them to resist.
They yield the faded memory of the day

To vain and gilded promise of the night
And never more distinguish wrong from right.
-August, 1999

©1999 “Lemuel”