Jennifer West.
Vulnerable.
“To share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable; to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength.”
Poem:
Cheer up, O grievous snail.
I tap your shell, encouragingly,
not that you will ever know about it.
And I want nothing to do with you, either, sulking toad.
Imagine, at least four times my size and yet so vulnerable.
I could open your belly with my claw.
You glare and bulge, a
watchdog near my pool; you make a loud and hollow noise.
I do not care for such stupidity.
I admire compression, lightness,
and agility, all rare in this loose world.
Vulnerable.
“To share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable; to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength.”
Poem:
Cheer up, O grievous snail.
I tap your shell, encouragingly,
not that you will ever know about it.
And I want nothing to do with you, either, sulking toad.
Imagine, at least four times my size and yet so vulnerable.
I could open your belly with my claw.
You glare and bulge, a
watchdog near my pool; you make a loud and hollow noise.
I do not care for such stupidity.
I admire compression, lightness,
and agility, all rare in this loose world.