Every day I hope and pray

for everything to go my way.

But what can you say

when well-laid plans go astray?

You do your best, but like a pest

reality snuffs out your gains.

A little thrill could ease the pain

of the world's icy refrains,

and the desperately lame

cast upon themselves shame

with a glimmer of greed in their sight.

So you've got a knife,

say, "the money or your life,"

but I'm packin' more than my brain.

You think it's alright

to prey upon the night.

so what if a stranger gets hurt?

But you're gonna bleed, sucker!

'cause I've got a blade that's sharper,

carving your name in

the misanthropic throws of death.

You can't get away,

you started this game

now you're gonna have to

have it your own way.

and I'll not shed a tear

for the life I'll not spare,

the one that you're throwing away.

My skin is my skin,

I won't let you in,

You'd best keep your mettle at bay.

I'm a kind soul,

but you push me, you know

when you threaten to take me, I rebel.

I don't go mad, I don't get even

I just block any everpresent threat to my being,

and the victim's victim might make a howl

because they want to keep all of us down.

The sword at my side

will brighten midnight

with the shimmering truth of midday.

It's never in vain

to be armed just the same

as the foul beasts the world cannot tame.

To go unprepared

won't mean you'll be spared,

quite the contrary,

it means certain doom.

So get your blade honed

so it cuts to the bone

when you must strike at the serpent's head.

If some take offense

they must accept recompense

that I do not tell them what to do.

You may be the prey

or a victim today,

but it must always be your right to choose.