Life is stranger than fiction—unknown

We watch or read about monsters
from novels, myths, and legends—
Medusa, Mr. Hyde & Dr. Jekyll, Grendel,
Frankenstein, Dracula, Pennywise.

We fantasize about being another
Arthur. If we could only pull swords
up from rocks; if we could only slay
dragons, warlocks, and wolves.

We then hear of their sightings,
in the news, not far from our streets.
We shudder as they come walking
out of pages and into our lives.

Selected byRaymond Huffman
Image credit:Emre Ezer
Obed Ladiny

Obed Ladiny's poems have appeared in Red Fez, In Between Hangovers, Torrid Literature Journal, Open Arts Forum, and more. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.