You can hear it coming up behind you
Unseen being in the shadows—
step      step        step
flap        flap         flap
schlurp  schlurp  schlurp
If you really wanted to, you’d know what it is;
You don’t want to know.

That’s not your fault—we’re taught,
all of us, avoid, avoid—don’t go
out alone at night, don’t walk
by yourself in the dark, don’t look
back, just keep moving, go, go, go
and hope someone friendly comes along
before it’s too late.

To look is to court, to invite: come hither
even if the only reason you’re looking
is to better ascertain whether to run or scream—

new plan: if you hear it coming up behind you
step      step        step
flap        flap         flap
schlurp  schlurp  schlurp
Just start running and screaming
without a glance; sort things out
on the other side of a door.