Fear

Original collage by Crystal Bowden

In this world, there is someone

whose existence is known by everyone.

They are not really human, although

they can take the shape of one.

They are not an animal, either, 

but they can be one.

They can be anything, anything 

that you can think of. 

They are subtle and discreet.

First, they will invade your mind

and slowly disrupt your thoughts.

Then they will give you free but dubious

fortune telling

even when you don’t ask for it.

To listen or to not listen—that is your choice.

Choose the former

and you will soon be a marionette,

completely at their mercy. 

Choose the latter

and you will see the outcome

yourself, for better or worse.

Still, they are no evil being

as one decision does not last

for eternity.

You can choose to free yourself

from their invisible strings.

Do just that, and you will see 

that the power they have is given

by you, and you

alone.

They can appear and disappear

at will, impossible to capture 

and destroy for 

as long as we exist,

so will they.