—Just after you sign and envision building homes on this tract you smell me in the dark
know that I move through this terrain at night though you only think of building
and selling even now you believe you can borrow my spirit by wearing a mask of my
face on your face look at me delve into your fears is your deepest fear to be hacked
strangled or be strapped to an IV in a bed with no chance to die I can grasp a turtle
and break its shell with one bite I can pounce on a deer and crush its skull and neck
with my teeth you slash and burn in the jungle force the snakes and macaws to retreat
you even burn your own species alive look into my eyes I am your mirror and
transformer if you destroy my species I will shape-shift and hunt you in your dreams
the fingerprints of your hands resemble the black rosettes on my skin and you will not
escape you will never comprehend the twin nights in my eyes remember as a child
you came up the steps from the basement and flicking off the light at the top of the stairs
feared a hand about to grasp your shoulder from behind that fear is alive and now
as you rummage for keys at your apartment doorstep I am a passing jogger about to
pounce I am the creature who smells your darkest thoughts and as you turn the key
in the lock day or night out of the darkness I spring—
Originally published in Michigan Quarterly Review Online. Copyright © 2021 by Arthur Sze. Used with the permission of the poet.