You:
You are nuzzled, comfortable but constrained,
In a shell.
Take a deep breath and brace yourself, then
Give a good kick...
Crack!

Or better yet, wait.
Bide your time. Enjoy the comfort while you can.
Here comes "Buddy" with the nutcracker.
Take a deep breath and brace yourself.
Crack!
We're glad to see you step out.

Me:
I am
The shell.
The barrier to a mystery,
The palace guard,
The safe,
The piece of art -- a Picasso --
Behind which hides a fortress, a museum, a story.
I am the shell --
Strong and protective --
An army, a vault door;
I don't know the combination.

You know.
I broke your shell, but you didn't break
Me.

You:
The key that didn't fit,
The wrong combination.
Me:
I am the shell.

You know.
You walked up to the Picasso:
"Tell me your story.
And hear mine."

You:
The nutcracker,
The wrecker ball,
You had seen the inside of a shell.
You had the passion to reach for me
But not the strength to crack me.

Not me:
The army,
The vault door,
The shell.

You:
You were nuzzled, comfortable but constrained,
In a shell.
Take a deep breath and brace yourself.
Crack!

But me:
I am the shell.
If you crack me you weaken me.
If you break me, you beat me.
I most protect my fortress because it gives me sanctuary.
I must protect my stories because they're all I have.
And so I do.

I am the shell.

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