SELECTIVE PRESSURES

(for those who have been faced with obstacles
and evolved.)

the magician’s cloth
slithers through the
ring, and only the torn
threads are left behind, frazzled
mangled victims.

my speckled skin is
tough from brushing by metal
zippers on the subway train, and
every tourist is left
rubbed red and raw.

they will never come
to the city
again.