"Shell"

 

Shell

He withdrew to safety that

night, back into his shell,

wishing to be unseen,

wanting to be left alone.

 

For only when alone

could he truly breathe. 
In the presence of others,
every careful breath was

measured, as though breathing

too hard or too deeply would
only serve to bring unwanted
attention to himself,

making him more visible.  

He felt his shell cracking, 
breaking apart slowly,
one piece at a time,

the inpouring of light

too fast and too brilliant,
finding and illuminating
every perceived transgression.

For some, failings are too dear,
not deserving of the light…
if only in the mind,
if only for a time.




          ~~~

First published in The Write Place at the Write Time

http://www.thewriteplaceatthewritetime.org/poetry.html

September 22, 2014