The Monster Within Poem by Helen Wilson

An amorphous monster lurks within
Hidden from your view.
I used to think it lurked without
In ‘him’ or ‘her’ or ‘you’.

Lochness-like it would appear
Cresting stormy waves
Striking fear in hapless hearts
Cowering in their caves.

Until one calm, portentious day
I looked into the lake.
I saw my own face looking back
And realized my mistake.

Red rimmed eyes appraised me
Inflaming all my fault.
A monstrous mouth decried me
From a jagged, gaping vault.

Impaled on sharp incisors,
Were memories best forgot.
The scars of hard fought battles
Marred the skin atop the lot.

Muffled by the peace and quiet
But not completely silenced
An underlying roar forewarned
Of existential violence.

Fear reared its head; it writhed and dove,
Creating waves of anguish.
I grasped the creature by its tail,
Hoping thus to vanquish.

Rhythmically it slunk away;
The water closed around it.
Diminished by discovery, yes,
But not forever grounded.