there are times
when
i am not fit to talk to people
because
people’s words are not fit for human ears

watch
with every syllable
how they curl in on themselves —
my ears, my fingers
my spine

watch

as i curl inward
with the weight
of our worlds of words

im not coming back this time.

watch
as I grow the fangs and claws of
my youth
and use them
to flee
back into the woods

because where i plan on going
there are no names
carved into lichened bark

im not fit for this anymore.

so watch. me. leave.