I have often imagined being alone in the woods 
I'd choose a spot, bereft of man or bear 
And scream
From far away, you would wonder if an animal was in anguish 
My freedom sounds like pain, and I'm okay with that 

When my friend confessed she wakes to hear her front door 
Slam and thunder at 3am every night,
We wondered why 
But then I remembered 
I used to see a man at my balcony door every day for three years 

Funny, because I'd really only seen him that one time 
When he stalked my evening walk, 
and ran my way when he saw that I had stopped

Thank heavens for streetlights, I guess 

My friend says, "thank heavens for locks on doors,
But how am I to keep them out of my mind?"

When my sleep paralysis showed up this time
It sounded like a dragon
No, a demon
Not powerful, but bloody and mangled 
Not dominating, but like a cornered animal 

I wasn't afraid 
I understand it, all too well.
- Gitanjali Narayan