"Underneath" by Sierra July

Underneath 

All her life

"Underneath" Watercolor on Paper
By J. Artemus Gordon

She'd been afraid

Of 'Under'

Under her bed

Underground

Underwater

Her greatest fear

Was what lies

Under her skin

--Sierra July

Poet's Notes: This piece came from the thought that people are afraid of things that are hidden or things we don't understand or trust (things with hidden meanings), but I considered that tangible things, in sight or not, are less frightening than shrouded thoughts and feelings. In the end, I wrote this with a bit of a horror tone but wanted it to be something that made readers stop and consider rather than strike fear.