One More Round

Just when I thought,

I was done with the devil,

good news from a friend

on her way to the top,

threatened to send me back

to the hellish realms.

Old demons jumped at once,

from dark corners

and started to play tricks.

First was envy, whose bitter brew

I tasted only for an instant,

then spit, and washed away

with a dose of heartfelt rejoicing.

Then, an old craving awoke,

and started to torment me

with unreasonable demands

for what could not be had any more,

the fruit of which I had eaten before,

and decided I did not like.

Last came doubt,

under the guise of wisdom,

who begged me to please reconsider

the difficult path I had just chosen.

Familiar lines, heard several times

too many, were losing their power.

I took all three demons head on,

and sent them back flying.

Still a bit shaken

from such arduous confrontations,

I stood still,

and congratulated myself

for my resolve.