the devil in disguise

a long time ago
I fell in love with the devil

but I did not see his horns, nor his claws
did not see through his lies, nor his games

there was only his captivating gaze on me
pulling little, lonely me into his orbit

and when his claws
dug into my skin

I did not feel pain or sadness
only love and happiness

or at least
what I thought was love and happiness

how could I have known
what he did would hurt
if I have never known
how love should work?

unbeknownst to this detriment
I kept holding onto his embrace

danced this death waltz
until it ended with a bang

and when it did
I searched everywhere for pieces of his love

but I could not fill my mind and body
with somebody elses deathly love

it was my own love that I needed
and it was his love that destroyed me

now that I have found myself
I can let go of his lingering touch

I can wash away the pain
and get ready to love again