Prickles

      we'll try 
      to forget
why anyone 
would feel 
   unsafe,

   or that any 
   bite might 
be a delicious 
   discovery:

like artichokes
(once you get
      past the 
   prickles)

   so many have
such defences.
   hurt once, we
   try strategies
      to minimise

future attacks,
   painful and 
   maybe evil.

something to 
      be said 
for prickles.

   none of us
wants to be
      bitten or
chewed up.