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I exist in the realm of bacteria,
There but unseen, unfelt, unthought of
Un-everything
Invisible but there nonetheless
Waiting, waiting, waiting
Biding my time
Obliviously, unwittingly
‘Til I make an impact —
For good or no
And the spark of perception
Reveals my action to be that of a villain,
Or savior
Essential or detrimental
Consumable like yogurt
Or consuming like staphylococcus
And the whole time I am invisible
Nameless, featureless
Unknown,
Except by effect.

Disclaimer: The views in this article are those of the author. Prison Journalism Project has verified the writer’s identity and basic facts such as the names of institutions mentioned.

Cesar Suarez is a writer and poet incarcerated in California.