Looks are the bark
of a tree;
they protect us,
hide what's on
the inside.
They save us from
the cruel, harsh world.
We are protected
from the winds
and the rains.
Without our bark
we feel
fragile
vulnerable
exposed.

We feel as if
we need to fit in
and if we don't,
we might as well be
dead.

But inside
there is so much
more.
We could be
broken
bent
decayed
hollow...
Or we could be filled
with the beauty of
new creatures,
being born
every day
learning to live
thriving amongst the pulp
of our inner core.
But no one sees it
because it's all
hidden
by the bark.