Paradox of Purpose

A change of pace from the usual - my first attempt at poetry.  Just some thoughts that have been nagging me lately.

The poem is meant to be a question; my beliefs don't necessarily coincide.

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Darkness - the ancient foe
Cloaked beneath a selfish silence,
It kindles war and woe
Sparking works of needless violence
 
It sleeps within our world
Poison in the purest water
A whisper in every word
Leading love to ceaseless slaughter
 
Its ageless blight
Sews seeds of dismay
As Man's riches and might
See ruin and decay
 
His mortal existence
Wrought ever by sorrow
His futile persistence
The tombs of tomorrow
 
~
 
Blameless, I rose from dust
Gifted lifebreath from on high
My naive heart knew no distrust
My ears knew not a lie
 
But in this perfect place
Temptation’s echoes call
I fell to sin’s embrace
And darkness swallowed all
 
A paradox of purpose
All-seeing One so great
Why leave the snare among us
To sabotage our fate
 
Alas, it cannot be
All-knowing One so grand,
The serpent and the tree -
A tool, but still your hand
 
~
 
For enlightenment to gain
A vessel of free will
Must first be given pain
And grasp the weapon still
 
Bringing at last the fruit of life
Darkness lights the way
For bearing bane of sin and strife
Paints evil in the clearest day

To shape the heart of all mankind
Another stroke is laid
For each encounter, cruel or kind
Until the Painter’s work is made
 
Light - the destination
If, Maker, it is true
Our pain is preparation
But what paints this of You?