Crabs, Spiders, and Snakes

The older I become, the more I embrace my inner crab
in the sense that I have outgrown
my old shells —
the ones that I put on
to make those around me
comfortable, no longer
do they fit
their neck holes too tight
the space inside too narrow
I simply can’t
shove the entirety
of myself into
the expected
so I become quiet
move to the side
and sit still, aware
of the small …