she circles her foot around and around and around
spinning herself into a turbulent tornado because within
she cannot be seen
and within she can breathe
and within everyone else can be out
and she can be in
and she can be in
side
herself and the vortex will
protect her from the scars stuck on
the surface because the wind of her
tired whispers and her bitter cries
have whipped up a storm and will not let anyone in
not the friends who sulk back guiltily and bang
on the door not her mother who
brings up food to her room and begs her to please come
downstairs
not her brother who draws pictures at school for his older
sister who he no longer understands
not for anyone
the wall she has built with her own tears is
impenetrable though it shivers
paper-thin
to the touch