We put on identities like clothes
Picking out the labels and traits
Like shirts and shoes
We choose what fits
What feels comfortable
What others think looks good on us
We'll wear thick jackets
To protect against the cold of rejection
We'll wear silk shirts
To disguise the jagged raging landscape within
We'll wear the camouflage of modesty
To make us invisible in the chaotic scenery
Of being human
When we grow out of an article
We'll discard it, and in the same way
We discard past versions of ourselves
Sometimes we put things on
That don't quite fit
That are uncomfortable
That accentuate the parts of ourselves
We think are desirable
And hide the parts we are ashamed of
We might wear the same clothes for days
Sometimes years
As they turn to rags
We'll Wonder why we feel torn up
We might change our clothes
Several times a day
When nothing seems to feel
Quite right
We rummage and scour our closets and dressers
Looking for an old outfit
Something sentimental and pleasant
With horror we realize we'd outgrown it
Disposed of it
And so disposed of a something we cherished.
Often when meeting people
Revealing ourselves feels like
Getting undressed
Rarely will we ever allow ourselves
To be fully naked
Even with the partners we make love to
And if we do disrobe completely
showing our fully naked selves
There's discomfort and embarrassment for all involved
It's rare to encounter another soul
You'll strip down in front of
Do a little twirl
Show off your shame
Timidly asking
Can you accept me?
The whole nakedness
Of my being
It's why we turn the lights off
Before making love
Or find candle light romantic
The flickering and shadows
Hiding our embarrassment
Our scars and shameful parts
But still we make love with our souls
Fully dressed
