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Bentonite, Badlands, Drumheller, Alberta, Canada
This flowing earth
Which rain does melt
And sun does bake
To make a hide
A flesh so tough
Naught but steel
Can break its skin

And like the earth
I’m toughening
Impervious
To love’s torment
I keep it out
Pretense: content

But even steel
Can’t cleave my soul
And never could
Through toughest hide
I feel my heart

So soon enough
I’ll find my way
To safety’s arms
Then shed this skin
To let you in

Bentonite
Badlands
Drumheller
Alberta, Canada, 2018