Her Shell Poem by Loyd C Taylor Sr

She is untrusting, hardened and withdrawn,
But she wasn’t always like this.

Over the years, she grew to be fearful, hopeless;
So tired of life she had grown.

She is in a shell of her own making with some outside help.
Oh, how frightened and confused, feeling so alone!
At times, she might venture out for brief moments, but then...

Quickly, back inside her shell, dreading the possible gouging
She might receive, like so much she had already experienced.

And how they would stare at her and how they would glare at her;
They were quick to point out her strange and bizarre behavior.

Why couldn’t she just get it all together?
And why does she keep retreating into her shell again?

They just don’t know!
How could they have known?
How could they possibly understand her hurt and pain?

So, she became more and more isolated and withdrawn.

She is not unlike the tortoise
Hiding in his shell for protection,
Withdrawing there for his self-preservation.

Not only from predators of the wild, but from the prodding...
The jeering... the cruelty of some mean little child,
Poking at him with sticks. Making sport... jesting in glee

At how slow and apathetic... yes, unlike them was he.
Once in a while, he would come out and peer around, moving
Ever so slowly, creeping forward even more cautiously.
Then, at the smallest threat, pulling back into his helmet of salvation;

Who knows how long before he would come out again.
To the tortoise, time seems so meaningless and pointless;
But he’s safe in his shell shielded from any possible harm.

Maybe she withdraws for the same reasons as well,
Believing her only protection is her shell.