Don’t wake
the monster inside.

Quiet as you go. Don’t feed
the geese on the pond

behind the castle
where the monster lives.

They’ll get used
to it. Demand more.

Ever been pecked
or bitten into submission?

Nothing fun
about it. If your wrist aches

from sleeping on it
funny, spend your waking

days doing something funnier
than planning

your own wake
with the sound on mute.