This thin shell which encases my mind, Threating to crack under the stresses Of other egos more fragile. Thicker the shell may then be, But not stronger. For the winds of insecurity Whip through those cracks Making the original shell even weaker. And they change into a creature - Insensitive to the feelings of others, While supersensitive to any remark Directed to them. Still they scurry frantically To paste on more stolen shell fragments And more brittle becomes their ego shell.
Birds have thicker egg shells than reptiles.
Yet reptile shells are more flexible. They are born from a membrane much more flexible. Then let birds have their brittle shells. Let the reptiles have their leathery ones. Let my ego shell be more flexible.