Avoidance–
the urge toward that–
such an annoyance. . .

I’d like to put it in a pumpkin shell
and have it stay put, very well,
but I truly know,
even if it was well closed,
with lid,
and hole-free,
unlike the spritely jack o’lantern
carved by adult or kid,
I’d look away,
and out that avoiding-wanting force,
behind my back,
would have mysteriously slid,

only to re-enter me,
despite my every “stay away!”
my best, most earnest bid. . .

it’s been recorded
since time immemorial
and multiplied times myriad
on stone, on paper, celluloid,
and perhaps with blippy text
sent from Android,
in stories that cannot be counted–

that show
how the avoidance urge
may rank the uncontested first
of all the hardest things
there to avoid.