I lurk in minds' corners,
Slinking in shadow; hiding plain-sight.
My walk is smooth, jerky; silent, deafening.
Just when you notice me, I disappear.

You let me live here, in cracks of thought.
Whispering half-truths, shouting out lies.
When I look, in the mirror, it's you I see,
Twisted, skewed, bent beyond belief.

I am that which haunts your dreams;
The worst of every nightmare.
You wonder why you fear yourself?
Here's the answer! Here I am!

I exist to torment you.
My purpose? To poison, defile.
You fear me, yet do not realize your own hypocrisy! Oh, the subtle irony!

I am that which holds you back.
The doubt, the fear, that second guess.
I am what I say, yet you still ask my name?
Have you not guessed?

The Critic be named! 'tis I! 'tis I!
Do you know me now?
For though Critic am I, the true critic is you.