Our eyes cannot see

shifting away

avoiding the monster

under the bed

on the subway

living in its cookie cutter house

words fail

as our voices die

a shriek trapped

unscreamed

and we carry this horror

in our own minds

adrenaline at the ready

for every blind corner

every sudden sound

we cast off humanity

and become instinct

prey

scenting the air

ready to flee the hunter – Caroline A. Slee