whenever you see me 

don’t see as if 

you are about to fix up 

a button in your coat.

whenever you hear my voice

don’t look out the window 

as if there is some rally about to happen 

and a large gathering is 

waiting for the speaker.

whenever you read my letter 

don’t try to open a dictionary 

as if there are words 

you haven’t heard.

whenever you see me in your dreams 

don’t panic as if 

a tiger is about to jump over you 

and you’ve never seen 

a dream like this before.

rather fix up your unsettled musings 

which has gone to another world

listen to my voice and think over it

I never make a noise

read my words carefully 

as I’m just literate 

with very little vocabulary

unlike you a diplomat

I’ll hardly come to your dreams 

as the strong constraints 

that you’ve designed for me

have taken me in its tight grip

it must be the demons drifting 

inside you and against me

a product you’ve been busy 

creating all your life.

take care of yourself

and forget about me.

(Top Photo: http://markmanson.net with thanks)