Puncture his thick skin
And there is a sour interior
Memories divided into segments
and protected beneath a puckered
unwelcoming
bitter exterior.

His brother
He is much the same
With the same thick skin
But he’s sweeter
Past his tough defenses
Colored in a softer yellow
glow of optimism.

But it’s the other one
Green with envy
and pockmarked with hate.
He’s the one to watch
And maybe
With the right combination of sweetness
Maybe his faults can be healed.