Thick Skin

She had tried
growing on
several 
occasions,
not just plants,
but a skin
so thick
to keep 
feelings 
and 
people 
at 
an arm’s length 
wear an armor
for aren’t they those
who reach
for the heart
pull it out 
tear it into shreds
as casually
as they would
cook pasta
or feed the dog? 

But it didn’t work, she said.
The armor
stood upright 
blocking heartache 
and sunshine 
alike
swathing her in a numbness
that rendered her
less of a human…
…not much of a writer.

A writer must leave
the heart wide open
at the risk
of being slashed open

It didn’t work, she said.