Revised Repetition (new/better title, rescript)

Bête Noire

Do you know the man who erased the world?
Men wrapped tight around his finger so curled.
He is the old man who gnashes his teeth,
Like little daggers that have come unsheathed.

Full of arrogance, perhaps fallen pride,
He threw his hate upon the countryside.
Danced in his desolate ballet of sin,
Welcomed many others to join right in.

He said to them, “Don’t delay, sign right up!
Come all and drink from my forbidden cup.
Don’t be shy my friends; you are just in time
To taste some of my fine, exotic wine.”

And come they did, from the world so wide,
All men and women approached, none did bide.
The whole world carried on for many days,
Consuming blindly in an irate haze.

Seven full gone before they tired,
Finally the patrons had lost their desire.
They gathered their coats, made ready to leave,
The old man, their host, began to seethe.

He laughed obnoxiously, and shouted “Stay!
Don’t you fools know you signed your life away?”
A poison so foul he placed in their drink,
A fleeting moment for them left to think.

To wallow in bitter shame and remorse,
Amidst their recent, unwise chosen course.
Weighty price they’ll have to grin and bare it,
‘Cause they drank his baneful wine so claret.

The old man lay back on his folded hands,
Just to relax and watch his master plan.
And smiled he did, toothy grin so furled,
The errant old man who erased the world.