When I was younger my mother used to tell me stories of 

witches and wizards and goblins and werewolves

taking your souls like tokens for their inventories.

But what she failed to tell me is that the monsters are here and their

looks are magnificent 

and their wit could win contests with its sheer omnipotence.  

She failed to tell me and now I will never forget.

You did not use mind-control or a potion to get what you wanted

you merely found a warm body willing to finish what you started.

The most incompetent gambler would take a bet,

that when the opportunity presents itself,

my mother will once again enlighten me with a story,

and not a word, no matter how gory,

will go unheard

from her daughter with innocence now blurred.

For if I had known monsters truly walked the earth,

those stories would have stayed with me far longer.

Now I can only pray to every goddess to be reborn,

for monsters come out when they sense someone in mourning.

- s.n.