The Disguise

The Disguise

I knew from

the time I was

a small child

walking

in the forest along Toby Creek

that my

real skin

was green

not just any green

but the green lush

tones

of the moss

that dressed

the trees I so loved

sometimes

I thought my true color

might be the light muddy brown of the creek

but nooooo

The song

the color

was definitely moss

this pale

freckled skin

was a disguise

as some part of me

intuitively

knew

that if the

human World found out

my True Colors

that I was really

the deep green

and soft fuzzy texture

of the color moss

I would become endangered.

Now

as I grow younger

toward my death I am much

more prone to display my

full green mossy breathing skin

dancing wildly in the forest

talking babbling

singing out loud

to creeks

and my sometimes

moss skinned relatives

the trees.

with all my gratitude and deep sweet tears

Naomi Khan