the lesser of two evils

one serpent hissed to the other, in a competition to swallow the venerable prey who held himself in high regards, to the lowly wretch who no longer cared to change, to the neutral diplomat trying to tamper the fire. then the proud fall face first, the caste away found no enlightenment, the zoned out realized he had to pick a side for foe and ally viewed the indecisive with distrust! shuffle along dear maiden, whose spear points now towards the north star no longer giving directions when wild animals are more intent on the moment, not some lofty dream. one tail whiplashes - splashes a red to a neck turning when a sound hints at changes. one head sinks down and holds firmly to a rat scuttling from too hot to too cold. never enough, a genuine human condition chides the lady whose eyes hold merriment, then the mask drops with a heart bearing scorn. just give me the cheese the rat pleaded to a hand full of temptation but the trap springs tight. then a shadow takes life in a closet suddenly small, out comes the boogeyman with lots of cheese. just not the cheese the rat wanted. arsenic laced, filled with tons of addictive soul draining capsules. they pop like tarts heated up, bursting flavors that gives a belly aches, then euphoria when a trojan seeks to sooth alarm bells wanting to give alerts. hush now - all is well. it's just cheese the backdoors are opened, with the children of lilith delighting in playgrounds for the taking. they're rampaging at the swings, the cookie jars refilled with spit and fingerprints but the forensic scientist has gone dull with age when he too is under the spell of a northstar turned upside down. goes on at the crime scene with foliage thick, the scent of blood strong, then falls into a pithole. oh boy, the snakes shake their heads, with beady eyes gleaming red. this would not do, when cravings diminish, when the proud became the lowly, the lowly became the neutral, the neutral turned on the bigger threat. meanwhile the grasses have turned purple, mingled with lost purposes, red dotting the petals blooming in night's yellow glare. but what's a little red got to do with anything? mused the forest folks as they sank back on opened jaws unwilling to let go of helpless prey. it's quite comfortable here, not yet digested, not yet screwed. lots of honey all around, saliva thick with promises - the labyrinth stretches, extends like many tunnels opening. then. the footsteps, the hooves galloping, it is the minotaur rushing for the final strike. the north star shineth forth, look up she called. it's the only way.