The Mimic

People are so good at it.
It’s odd they fear it the most.
It doesn’t need uncanny
Valley approximations.
The idea of anything
Definitely not human
Appearing to be human,
A mimic of the human
Good enough to be human,
Terrifies in a manner
Distinct from any other—
Predators, fire, violence—
And it’s not at all clear why.
When have there been non-human
Mimics of humans, outside
Of fables, myths, and legends?
And yet, if a non-human
Demon, spirit or machine,
Perfectly like a person,
Was known to be real, moving
Through people you thought you knew . . .