An over-timid turtle
Hides in her shell
A hard-nosed armadillo
Says, “What the hell”
Cold-blooded snakes can count on
A second skin
A porcupine will shoot her
Sharp needles in
But her suit of armor
Is a looser weave
She’s a thin-skinned mama with her
Heart on her sleeve

Her wardrobe’s loose and lacy
From snow-white to sheer black
She wears a string a’ tears on days when
She can’t hold ’em back
A red dress when she parties
A black one when she grieves
You’ll recognize her easy by her
Heart on her sleeve

Don’t need to pry her open
To see her flaws
She ain’t no hard-shell lobster
With crusher claws
Don’t need to keep your distance
Or leave the room
She ain’t no skunk who’ll gitcha
With cheap perfume
No, she ain’t armed and dangerous
You might be relieved
To learn she’s just a woman with her
Heart on her sleeve

She ain’t no spiny urchin
No jelly fish
Her tentacles won’t sting you
They won’t swing and swish
And just ’cause she likes leather
That don’t make her tough
And just cause you’re together
That don’t make it love