Antagonist
by Sam M. Phillips

All I want to be
Is the universal enemy,
Do no doubt my energy,
When they read my elegy
They will say I was like mist,
The perfect antagonist,
Everywhere and nowhere,
You’re unaware
Of my presence
Except as your conscience.

It is my job to be in your head,
Even long after I’m dead,
Once you’ve read
One of my works
Then my vibration always lurks
In the recesses of your core,
Where I procure ever more
Of your energetic scaffold,
You’ve been told
Many tales about me,
But everyone fails to see
My true shape,
And so my victims never escape.

I am a parasite of the mind,
Go and try to find
My form in the mirror,
We are each other’s dinner,
There is no winner,
We rely upon each other,
Though it’s a lie to say I don’t smother
You with my power,
But if you would cease to cower
You could stand,
And I would be forced to hand
A fair share of control
To your designated role.

Your soul is so bright
It would crush me with its might
If it had the chance,
And so I dance
Around your feet,
Not seeking to compete,
But to trick you into submission,
Make you think you need my permission
For every decision,
I’ve put myself in the position
To be your energetic gatekeeper,
And as long as you remain a sleeper
I will deceive,
Make you believe
We are one,
And nothing needs to be done.