Angela Baldwin                                                                                                           

Insecure

                                             I stand in crowded lunchrooms…

I wait in lines, I sit, I eat—

 But be Careful!

Their eyes sting like bees, their judgmental lips will mock you…

Watch everything you do and don’t breathe too loud!

They will feed on your fear and leave you b r e a t h l e s s.

-- Gasps--

I look around before I make my next move.

They will eat you Alive.

I finally escape and run home [alone] with dead red leaves biting my footsteps

--Crunch, crunch--

I run faster through the leaves hoping that my flaws will shed like a snake’s skin so that I will finally be able to

 r e f l e c t  | t c e l f e r

A mirror image that they will accept.