Blake's Poetry Presentation

Feeding the Demon
by Darin Barnes

I’ll serve you master.
Serve you well.
Harness me or burn in hell.

Comfort me.
I’ll be your skin.
Stoking fires deep within.

Give me love.
I’ll be your sight.
Outstretched wings, we both take flight.

Give me purpose.
Use my power.
Stalk the world, and watch it cower.

Chase your dreams through plains inspired.
Catch them if you can.
I’ll give you strength, you’ll not grow tired.
Turn you into running man.

Feed me anger.
Feed me rage.
Give me fear, I’ll burn this cage.

I’ll bend your soul.
And twist your life
Eat your children, take your wife.

Burning hot.
I scorch your skin,
Roast your liver, burn within.

Deceivers kiss.
You taste the flame.
I’ll burn the world, and end this game.

Your destiny is in your grasp.
So tell me what’s the plan?
Tell me who I’ll be at last.
Nemesis or running man.

Thesis: The poet uses a dark, somewhat sadistic, style of writing to implant vivid images into the reader's mind which allows the reader to understand the meaning of the demon representing our deepest obsessions.

1. Who is the poet referring to when speaking of their "master"?
2. What do you notice about the rhyming scheme?
3. Why does the pattern change in the 5th and 10th stanzas? Does it change the overall feel?
4. Does the tone of the poem change at any point?
5. Is the poem meant to be taken literally or metaphorically? Why?
6. What image does this poem create in your mind?