The Phantom of the Mind
In the dark and silent night
A phantom haunts my troubled mind
It whispers thoughts of woe and fright
And fills my heart with dread unkind
I know not whence this specter came
Nor what it seeks to do with me
It seems to play a cruel game
Of making me its puppet be
But sometimes in the light of day
I glimpse a truth that sets me free
This phantom is not here to stay
Nor has it any power o'er me
For all the thoughts and feelings born
Within this shadow of the mind
Are but reflections of a form
That I can choose to leave behind
And when I do, I see anew
The beauty of the world around
And feel a peace and joy so true
That drowns the phantom's dismal sound
I am not what the phantom makes
I am not bound by its decree
I am what I myself partake
Of thoughts and feelings that I see
And so I take each thought captive
And make it to obey my will
I do not let the phantom live
Nor let it sway me to its ill
I choose the thoughts that serve me best
And cast away the ones that harm
I build a fortress in my chest
And guard it with a faithful arm
And as I master every thought
I shape the world to my desire
I manifest what I have sought
And light the world with my own fire