when I was born, they took my skin
i had no skin
i was frightened
i wept
a witch came
she studied me
i turned my head from the spoon
"Good," she said, "You may refuse it if you want."
She gave me the gift of anger
it was the only defense I had
but over the years
I studied and thought
and I found my tears
and I found my fears
i made my skin of tears
this took me many years
one tear for each scale
at last it is done
my skin
is complete
i smile at the sky
as i don it
i slip into the water
and i am gone