Armor

I have donned this armor to cover up flesh
to hide the weakness that I have trapped within.
I’ve replaced this flaccid skin with shining steel,
in hopes that their weapons will not penetrate and somehow I might
become the warrior in whose armor I hide
I slip my foot into a boot that is six sizes to big.
and the breast plate supplied comes up to my ears,
There’s just too much empty space that I can’t fill.
I hoped that this armor would make me complete,
but it only shows how small I truly am.
It only shows that I am not who I want to be.
I am but a child who stepped into this facade of steel
that promised protection, that promised strength
but it only seems to be making it harder to breathe.
The weight bears down against me;
It clatters like chains dragging on the floor
that I am trying to break free from.
But the only way to break free from chains
is to simply take them off.
For what good is strength if it only leaves you paralyzed?
What good is protection if means you are trapped?
So I remove each piece,
finding freedom with each vulnerability.
Once again, I make visible my penetrable skin.
No, I am not the warrior this task requires,
but still I go forth.