The New Stone In The Hallway Poem by RIC BASTASA

what he did
was indeed notorious
hiding himself
on different names
using his
expertise
on hurting
an innocent bystander
like you

what adds injury to
insult is when you
meet him
he is as gentle as
a lamb
coy as a puppy

at your back
he is the fire dragon
by which if you
are careless enough
you get burned
in seconds

i've heard him
laugh
in one of his
common
occasions

if only
he had known
that you are
descended from
the lineage of
Medusa

he could have
not
turned into
a stone

as he
deserves it
so

he gazed at you
fearlessly