You can't tell yourself not to think of the English muffin because that's what you just did, and now the idea of the English muffin has moved to your salivary glands and caused a ruckus. But I am more powerful than you, salivary glands, stronger than you, idea, and able to leap over you, thoughts that keep coming like an invading army trying to pull me away from who I am. I am a squinty old fool stooped over his keyboard having an anxiety attack over an English muffin! And that's the way I like it. "Mortal Combat" by Ron Padgett is from his collection entitled How to Be Perfect (Coffee House Press).