Generic

I am a sheep 
in wolf’s clothing, 
trying to blend 
into the pack. 
Red Riding Hood 
pursues me, 
there’s no going back. 
She looks into 
my amber eyes 
and sees a wolf’s yellow, 
she strokes 
my wiry coat 
with no clue 
that underneath 
is my wool, 
so soft, so mellow. 
She cannot know 
what it’s like 
to cover docility 
with wildness, 
that under 
this threatening cloak 
is a creature 
of infinite mildness. 
It’s what I must do 
to try to survive 
and it’s she 
who cajoles me 
into staying alive. 
Help me, help me, 
if you can 
to throw off this disguise, 
to live, survive, 
while being myself 
and casting off 
this coat of lies.

A Sheep In Wolf’s Clothing