Goblin Skin

leaping and flailing,
I found every opportunity to get away,
there was no other option. At least, that is what
I told myself,
why else keep running?
run
run
run for hours, days or weeks,
who knows
who would care?
run to escape,
dancing leaf survival
lift and lunge, shatter the bone
splintering souvenirs
when can I stop?
do I ever
stop?
gasps for air and plea with the trees
transpiration, please!
I'm suffocating,
alone with shadows
haunting me, enticing me
is there a difference?
think, think it away, keep going
the trees extend their branches
slicing my skin,
mutilated guidance
roots feasting on blood and panic
slice
slice
blood dribbles, my skin peels
falls to the ground in shavings and chunks
each stride weaker than the last.
my skin, my skin, why take my skin?
"oh, dis way, dis way!"
lisping and hissing,
into the cave
I follow the goblin
What else was I supposed to do?
I bear no skin
to face the world
the goblins gathered
collected barrels of water to boil
and when I asked “what for?”
they responded,
"but my dear,
it's time to harden your shell"
© 2021 Marie Casey. All Rights Reserved.

Marie Casey is a writer and a mysterious presence. In her past life, she was a timid, cave-dwelling mouse. Now she seeks to experience the sunlight in the dream of sharing her thoughts, feelings, and words with the flowers she has admired for years.