he tries to peel his skin off in the mirror.
he yanks in the loose parts covering his stomach; stretches at flesh placed over his face. it won't come off.
it won't come off, and he is so angry, his skin melts from the scorch within him.
he scrapes hard over patches that defiantly relent. his nails catch on soft spots of brown that cry tears he buries beneath his heart in his chest.
"i never wanted to get rid of it. i just don't want to die because of it."
(it's hard to be a black man.)
