A deeper shade of gray By Chrissy McPhaul My shadow is turning a deeper shade of gray I count the hours before I fade to black My salty tears run down but do not quench my thirst I wonder if the wind will blow off these layers of scales I am covered with a coat of scales so thick and hard and heavy They are hiding my dark secret that makes my body ache and heart implode "I do not want to die!" I shout as the pressure around me builds From the emptiness that envelopes the masses on every side And so I sink deeper into the hole below me Until I can just barely see what is going on above Will I hide down here forever? I don't know I just don't know