Defense

"Oh,
Well, I know I'm not turquoise,"
(said the caterpillar
to the bumblebee)
"but it's okay
and I realize that
because, see, you do know
that I never wanted to be turquoise?
I never thought I could be?
I'd have to be, like, brilliant
and I know I'm not
because I'm just green
which is kind of close to turquoise"
(and then he's quick to say)
"but kind of not!
close, I mean.
But I have to understand turquoise
if I can do well being green
because they're kind of close
remember?"

and then the little caterpillar thinks to himself
that maybe he wouldn't mind being turquoise
and maybe he wonders if he can do it
except maybe he assumes that he can.