Practicing Magic

You’re not good
at exorcising your demons
So often you pick them up
and hold them up
to the light,
shake them around,
let them even
shine a little,
inspect them
for rough edges,
for torn bits.
Here’s your mistake:
You don’t make them leave.
You let them
take up residence.
You give them
a taste of power
and you back up.

There is a vileness
in you.
There is a brokenness
you’ve let
fester.
There is a black heart
to you
that you cannot undo,
and it will drown
the faces of anyone
who gets too close.

You have learned by now
that all you do
is ruin.

Why do you insist
on dragging others down
with you?

Why can’t you just
let go,
and let the world
get along
without you,
before you
make it all worse?

Maybe you should
let your demons
exorcise you.