by Rachel Grandey

You are delicate in this skin and a clumsy touch 
would crush you 
pallid and translucent as you are. 
You are nothing special and cling to the wall that hems you 
in, to your fear and shame. 
 
Awaken to the subtle beauty of diffidence 
of moonshine shimmering through fluttering wings. 
Tread feather-light along your path 
and let the stars trace your destination. 
 
Draw strength from the wall of your alighting. 
Camouflage is your safety now 
until, one day, you learn to traverse the wide-open space 
where your fuzzy edges will sharpen and clarify 
into a silhouette dancing boldly through the night. 
 
May you learn to live in the skin you have been given 
as you search shyly, through the darkness, for the light. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Originally from North-East England, Rachel Grandey studied literature, linguistics, and anthropology before moving to South-East Asia to teach English. She enjoys sea gazing, birdwatching, tea drinking and early morning forest exploring. Her poetry has been published in Vita Poetica, Agape Review and Amethyst Review. She can be found on social media as @RachelGrandey. 

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