Mythical Beast

Mythical Beast

By Frank Bolaji Irawo

Searching for that mythical beast

Without it, I'm told I can't be complete

With all others, I must compete

To find that which has been missing of me

Untold harm incurred in its pursuit

Banks emptied; souls vanquished

Once dear relationships laid to waste

No rest for the soul that yearns to be filled

Countless people line well-worn paths

Some crawl, some walk, while others fly

United in the seemingly never-ending quest

Bent on finding and taming this elusive beast

Come what may, no matter the cost

The promise of Utopia fuels the drive

This many people just can't be wrong

All hell-bent in service of filling the void

Each step I take seems to bring me close

Till right before my eyes, it seems to mutate

Perchance the description given crafted to mislead

I dared not quit, failure the antithesis of what I seek

Some days I arise feeling like this could be the one

Catch up with the beast that fits the bill

But the promised euphoria fails to persist

Like the great Houdini, it eludes my grip

Surrendered to my fate it never to find

Taming that mythical beast was never mine

Returning home in despair only to find

The beast was always here, and I was it