Identity

 

Can’t stay a caterpillar and

become a butterfly.

Growing, hermit crab must

leave his shell to find another.

A tadpole, I need to

give up my old self to

become something fully new.

 

Still hard to shed an unneeded identity.

Take it off like an old white coat,

out of fashion, wrong size,

uncomfortable in summer.

Need freedom to grow.

Keep the title,

discard the responsibility.

 

Giving up a medical license is not

becoming “Other”.

My dog will still know me.