Spine

My spine is slowly shrinking
into a constant crouch.
With a curved back
and hunched shoulders,
I resolve into myself.
Cowering away from the surrounding forces
beckoning me near,
I wear this yellow spine
and flushed red cheeks
to disguise me from myself.
For if I lifted my lowered face,
and looked into the world,
I may discover something
about them- about us-
that I never wished to find.