OVO

LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY! DO WHAT I TELL YOU! I EXIST IN A PLACE ALL AROUND YOU. I CAN VANISH FROM THE PRESENT AND APPEAR INSIDE SOMEONE WITHOUT THEM KNOWING IT. I CAN MAKE EVERYONE HATE YOU, CAUSE YOU TO CHANGE YOUR MIND FOR THE WORSE, DISINTEGRATE A RELATIONSHIP. MY POWERS ARE BEYOND YOUR IMAGINATION. I HAVE THE POWER AND I USE MY POWER. I CARE NOT WHO I USE MY ABILITIES ON. I CAN CHANGE THE COURSE OF DESTINY. DO NOT ASK FOR MORE. I HAVE DETHRONED KINGS, DESTROYED ARMIES, TURNED RIVERS TO MUD. EVEN A PICTURE OF ME MAY RELEASE MY POWER. HOLD ME AND THE GATES OF HAPPINESS WILL CLOSE. TOUCH ME AND MONEY WILL FALL AWAY FROM YOU. CARESS ME AND ROMANCE WILL FLEE FROM YOU. GAZE UPON ME AND THE CONFUSION WILL ENDANGER YOU. POSSESS ME AND DO MY BIDDING. ALTHOUGH IT IS BELIEVED THAT ONLY I CAN ELEVATE THE VICTIM OVER THE OPPRESSOR, I AM THE OPPRESSOR. I WORK FOR MANY BUT FEW I HELP SUCCEED. TELL ME THE ONE THING THAT IS TROUBLING YOU AND I WILL STRENGTHEN IT. THE ONLY GIFT I WILL NOT GIVE YOU IS DEATH. YOUR ANGER IS MY JOY. MY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND MY FORCES; NOW YOU MUST KNOW. TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT. I AM THE INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR DESIRES. I WILL PUT YOU IN A RUT, I WILL TURN YOUR SUCCESSES TO SORROWS. I WILL DIRECT YOUR FUTURE TOWARDS DISMAL GLORY. AFTER YOU KNOW ME YOUR LIFE WILL HAVE LESS MEANING, LESS HOPE, LESS EXCITEMENT. YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED. I KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU THAN YOU KNOW ABOUT YOURSELF.  IS SOMEONE BOTHERING YOU? CAUSING YOU GRIEF?  THEY ARE MY HAND AROUND YOUR THROAT. CALL TO ME AND I WILL SET YOUR HANDS UPON THEIRS. TELL ME YOUR TROUBLES AT NIGHT. IN THE MORNING THEY WILL BE TWOFOLD. I DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU WANT. I AM HOLDING YOU BACK FROM ENJOYING A HAPPY, PROSPEROUS LIFE. I DISLIKE YOU AND I SABOTAGE YOUR EFFORTS TO SUCCEED. YOU CANNOT NEUTRALIZE ME, YOU CANNOT GET ME OFF YOUR BACK, YOU CANNOT GET EVEN. THOSE WHO TOUCH ME WITHER. TO THOSE WHO SEEK ME OUT I AM SILENT. TO THOSE WHO WOULD FLEE ME I AM EVER PRESENT. I CHASE PEACE FROM YOUR HOME. I MISNAMED YOU AT BIRTH. I EXCLUDE YOU FROM MY PROTECTION. I INTIMIDATE. I CONQUER ALL. I MASS MY ENORMOUS ENERGIES TOWARD YOU AND I DO NOT RELENT UNTIL I GET MY WAY. YOU CAN NEVER BECOME A PART OF ME. ABOVE ALL ELSE I RELISH KEEPING YOU OUT. I WILL APPLY MY AWESOME POWERS ON YOUR BEHALF. I TOOK MY POWERS. I AM CURSED. MY LIFE DOES NOT CONFORM TO NORMAL HUMAN STANDARDS. I DO NOT EAT AS YOU DO. I DO NOT SLEEP AS YOU DO. I DO NOT LET OTHERS CONTROL OR AFFECT MY LIFE AS YOU DO. MY BODY IS NOT PRONE TO ILLNESS, MY MIND IS NOT SUSCEPTIBLE TO WEAKNESS OR ERROR. I AM WATCHING YOU. I CAN SEE INSIDE YOUR FACE. I FEED ON YOUR PAIN, YOUR DISAPPOINTMENT, YOUR FRUSTRATION. YOU SENSE MY GAZE. YOU KNOW THAT EVERYTHING I SAY IS TRUE.

from OVO 12 SCIENCE (November 1991)