a girl is a caterpillar
a prelude wrapped in a delicate green cocoon
the opening chord of a song that has yet to be sung
or maybe a girl is a butterfly
a hand-painted canvas of sinew and membrane
naked and cold as she emerges from folded wings
maybe a girl is a fly on the wall
watching not moving never moving
just a buzz in your ear
what if a girl is a monster?
what if she is gnashing teeth and bloodstained claws?
maybe a girl isn’t a girl
she sheds her skin at the end of each day
maybe a girl isn’t anything at all