Orange Peels

Haley Hand

I want to peel myself 

raw, push my thumbs
into my flesh, penetrating
my epidermis with my scalpelled nails

And let myself feel
the satisfactory burn
of stripping my flesh down to the pit.

While I bleed. 

And ribbons of piths dangle 
off of my face, shredded by diffidence,
and ripped from my blanched skin.

With juice rolling down my arms, 
settling under my nails in a bundle
of dried blood and dead skin.

Littering the floor 

in taunting half smiles, grinning ear to ear.
Dotted with brown dimples,
large craters and crescent moons.

I’ll suck my thumbs 
clean, swallowing contempt, 
copper, and citrus.

Because it’ll taste good to devour
my self-loathing. 

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Haley Hand is currently pursuing a degree in Secondary Education, English, at Holy Family University. Her work’s most paramount goal is to alleviate her anxiety as well as emotions that most people hide and transform them into something beautiful. Her poetry has appeared in Folio. Outside of writing, Haley enjoys reading fantasy novels and being transported into parallel worlds filled with magic, swords, and strong female leads.