Turtle Shell | Teen Ink
  1. Home
  2. Poetry
  3. Free Verse
  4. Turtle Shell

Turtle Shell

May 6, 2011
By austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
More by this author
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

View profile

When I am embarrassed
The room feels stuffy
Wringing me out from the inside
Like a pot of scalding water
Being thrown over my body

When I am embarrassed
The words mix themselves up in my mouth
Coming out in an awkward jumble
Until I want to disappear like a turtle
And hide my head in shame

When I am embarrassed
My smooth shell will be a refuge
From the waves of mortifying emotions
And I will cocoon myself safely
In a quiet place where I am just
myself

© Michelle B., Blairsville, GA

The author's comments:
I wrote this for a creative writing class - it's an extended metaphor poem.
Post a comment
Submit your own

Similar Articles

Previous Next
Poetry
Different
By sHaDoWnInJa PLATINUM
West Jordan, Utah
sHaDoWnInJa PLATINUM, West Jordan, Utah
31 articles 0 photos 3 comments
View profile
Poetry
Never The Same
By sHaDoWnInJa PLATINUM
West Jordan, Utah
sHaDoWnInJa PLATINUM, West Jordan, Utah
31 articles 0 photos 3 comments
View profile
Poetry
When this poem felt eternal...
By KICK3593 PLATINUM
Roslyn Heights, New York
KICK3593 PLATINUM, Roslyn Heights, New York
49 articles 0 photos 74 comments
View profile
Poetry
I want a guy...
By grlgotgame BRONZE
Chillicothe, Ohio
grlgotgame BRONZE, Chillicothe, Ohio
4 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"Girls with butts like mine, don't talk to boys with faces like yours."

View profile
Poetry
leap
By carreyelaine GOLD
Arlington, Tennessee
carreyelaine GOLD, Arlington, Tennessee
12 articles 4 photos 1 comment
View profile
Poetry
Secret Crush
By C.J.H. BRONZE
Benciao City, Taipei County, Other
C.J.H. BRONZE, Benciao City, Taipei County, Other
4 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"Sometimes the world tries ot knock it out of you. But I believe in music the way that some people believe in fairy tales." August Rush(2007)

View profile

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 10 comments.

austenite GOLD said...
on Jul. 29 2011 at 11:27 am
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

View profile
Thank you very much! I try to tell it like it is :)
austenite GOLD said...
on Jul. 29 2011 at 11:26 am
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

View profile
Thank you!
ohmakemeover BRONZE said...
on Jul. 28 2011 at 12:05 am
ohmakemeover BRONZE, Centerville, Minnesota
3 articles 0 photos 98 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Touch comes before sight, before speech. It is the first language and the last, and it always tells the truth."- Margaret Atwood

View profile
I often feel exactly the same way.  It is so refreshing to read a poem that is honest and a little claustrophobic, not littered with flowery prose and imagery.  You're very good at getting your true, blunt point across while still giving the reader a treat.
ohheyyyelli SILVER said...
on Jul. 20 2011 at 5:43 pm
ohheyyyelli SILVER, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
5 articles 3 photos 178 comments
View profile
I love the metaphor!
Zinaidia SILVER said...
on Jul. 7 2011 at 3:02 pm
Zinaidia SILVER, Moreno Valley, California
8 articles 3 photos 78 comments

Favorite Quote:
\\\"Whatever you are, be a good one.\\\"

View profile
Pretty good, you have a big imagination. The whole turtle shell concept is very relate-able. Only suggestion is to save mentioning the title of a poem until the end, it adds suspense. But this one is still very good, with the "myself" at the end. Good job :)
austenite GOLD said...
on Jul. 1 2011 at 3:47 pm
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

View profile
Haha, thanks very much guys!
JustAnotherOwl SILVER said...
on Jun. 28 2011 at 7:23 pm
JustAnotherOwl SILVER, Unknown, New York
6 articles 0 photos 378 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;See, we don&#039;t really care who you are;<br /> Everyone is capable of looking up and wishing on a star.<br /> So catch it, so contagious, this day-dreamer&#039;s disease,<br /> And hope can be your sword, slaying darkness with belief.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Sanctuary&quot;- Paradise Fears

View profile
I completely agree with the above two...Guess there's not much else to say! Great poem, pleasant read!
Reader101 PLATINUM said...
on Jun. 28 2011 at 6:40 pm
Reader101 PLATINUM, Amarillo, Texas
42 articles 4 photos 135 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;We&#039;re all pretty bizarre, some of us are just better at hiding it.&quot; -Andrew Clark(The Breakfast Club)<br /> <br /> &quot;Lack of format? Not possible in my opinion. Writing is an art, therefore you do you what you want.&quot; -b_gomez114

View profile
I agree!!! With the poem and with Mr. Bill... :) its simply perfect. I can relae to every word but I never wouldhave  thought to pull them together like that. You are a great writer! Keep it up! :)
austenite GOLD said...
on Jun. 28 2011 at 6:14 pm
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

View profile
Thanks for reading and commenting!
BillM GOLD said...
on Jun. 26 2011 at 2:44 pm
BillM GOLD, JACKSONVILLE, Florida
12 articles 0 photos 26 comments
View profile
Well developed poem; great 3 stanzas.  Very pleasant read (not too intense) and relateable. Everyone has felt this way, so the metaphor definately made sense. Great work!