The Exorcist

My life seems dull
and monotonous
to those who see me
on my way to the office
in the hurried mornings.
The truth is quite different.
Every night
I must go
out to fight
an evil spirit who,
using disguises—dog,
cricket, cloud,
rain, vagrant,
thief—tries
to infiltrate the city
to spoil human life
by sowing discord.
Despite its disguises,
I always discover it
and scare it away.
It has never managed
to deceive me
or defeat me.
Thanks to me,
happiness is still possible
in this city.
But the nightly battles
leave me exhausted and bruised.
In return
for my skirmishes against the enemy,
I ask for a few scraps
of affection and friendship.