The Beast And The Banshee

The Beast growled.
The Banshee howled.
The Beast as black as the black black night.
The Banshee as pale as the pale pale moon.

“I am without conscience” snarled the Beast.
“I am without substance” whispered the Banshee.

The Beast groaned.
The Banshee moaned.
The Beast's teeth as sharp as knives.
The Banshee's breath as cold as ice.

“I will eat you alive” said the Beast.
“You cannot” said the Banshee.
“I have no body.”

“I will scare you to death” said the Banshee.
“You cannot” said the Beast.
“I have no fear.”

The Beast regarded the Banshee
And the Banshee regarded the Beast.
The black black night grew blacker
And the pale pale moon grew yet more pale.

Then finally they spoke.

“I envy you” said the Beast to the Banshee.
“If I were you
I would know peace.”

“I envy you” said the Banshee to the Beast.
“If I were you
I would know skin.”

So it was that the Banshee entered the Beast
And the Beast let the Banshee enter him.

And at once the Beast screamed
And scratched and clawed at its flesh
Desperate to rip the banshee from him
For now he knew guilt.

And at once the Banshee wailed
And tugged and tore at his flesh
Desperate to be free of this cage
For now she knew mortality.

And now they knew,
Now they knew,
Now they knew,
Now they knew,
How it is to be human.