Come at it carefully， don't trust it， that isn't its right name，

    It's wearing stolen rags， it's never been washed， its breath

    Would look moss-green if it were really breathing，

    It won't get out of the way， it stares at you

    Out of eyes burnt gray as the sidewalk，

    Its skin is overcast¹ with colorless dirt，

    It has no distinguishing² marks， no I.D. cards，

    It wants something of yours but hasn't decided³

    Whether to ask for it or just take it，

    There are no policemen， no friendly neighbors，

    No peacekeeping busybodies to yell⁴ for， only this

    Thing standing⁵ between you and the place you were headed，

    You have about thirty seconds to get past it， around it，

    Or simply to back away and try to forget it，

    It won't take no for an answer： try hitting it first

    And you'll learn what's trembling in its torn pocket.

    Now， what do you want to do about it？