Shed

I have been clawing myself 

open

hoping something will change

underneath this 

pale human skin

to find the natural animal within.

And it is not a rabbit or a doe. 

Great Disney set-up, though. 

When I found her,

barking, chicken stealing and

skylarking,

I found my name.

I understood what strangely happened here

a wild adaptable canid

loyal as a tick, 

owning your trash, 

looking for a life

amid constant change. 

And I know many things

that steal away from the one big thing you

think you know.

I shed the self that was 

only human

to learn to grow. 

And my bark

is like the cackle of a witch. 

You can never see through me

because every day there is a new me,

because I remember your past

so hard I never remember mine.

And I feel fine. 

I shed my human skin,

and the wisdom

within falls out. 

I am here for your doubt

and your remembrance. 

Let's dance

in the light of a harvest moon,

and gather our thoughts together

and tell them

so cleverly

that we think they came from ancient history and not

just you and me.