
Garlic will not act as safety
no crucifix to ward them off 
it’s never blood they seek
but all that makes you
is their meal of choice
the friend in foul weather
the stirrer of tempests at sea
the first to attack
when vulnerability appears
they seek their way in
we become a wall
they cannot scale
a black hole beyond their understanding
the gray rock, without interest
without color
to safeguard our energy
to protect our peace
to starve the vampire
preying upon our lives – Caroline A. Slee