peeling

there are layers there
thin, like
skin on the onion
not the thick ones
but the nearly invisible
membrane
that might or
might not
show when you peel the brown shell off
that cracks and snaps
dry, brittle.

but the thinnest layer
hides

i just realize it's there
as i pry the outer from the
inner
and it pulls away like
the filmy amnion
from the chorion

but my layer
is more elastic and doesn't break
or shred
or shed
but snaps back
resists the fingernail
hides the underneath
because the layers below
are unripe
immature
undeveloped

hiding.