Why must they always compare me to the hare?

I have my own story, too, you know? 

In fact, I have many stories to tell. 

We can live for over 150 years!

I get mixed in with the turtles all the time. 

What’s up with that?

We are much slower and dusty. 

Turtles practically fly in the water!

If people actually paid attention, 

they would realize that in comparison,

I am the turtle’s cranky, grandma-like equivalent. 

My cracked skin makes beauticians cry in horror; 

to their disappointment, 

I’ll tuck myself away in my shell before they can

lather me with lotions and creams.  

We are considered hermits who

hide away in dark crawlspaces.

No one can find us. 

We are considered anti-social. 

Lonely. 

No one notices the symbiotic relationships between us and finches; 

they eat parasitic bacteria off our backs, 

while we provide them a place to rest. 

That’s what friends do. 

They share and help one another. 

Not so ‘hermit-like’ now, eh?

Humans tend to only see one beautiful thing in us. 

Our shells,

sold for 50, 60, 70 bucks a pop

are carelessly turned into

handbags, shoes, and belt buckles.

Desperate buyers are willing to spend even more.

My house is NOT on the market.

Why can’t they see me for who I am inside,

under my hard, ribbed shell.