The Naked Self

You tell me I wear too much
mantles laid on the naked self
around the person you’d like to see
hiding goodies underneath
revelation has its reward
exterior stripped and put aside
the seeing of what’s been hid
revelation of the inner self

intellect is plain enough
the brain put forward as a sham
because this is a three cup game
a scam to safely shroud my pain
inside I am emotion’s bitch
desires and fears well embraced
buried deep in sepulcher
beneath distraction of the mind

humor is its own reward
unless I use it to disguise
the unvarnished bliss my core
behind the laughs I bring to hand
yucks to cackle, guffaws to giggle
this smile is the mask I choose to wear
when the grin does not extend
from my face to my soul

lastly drama takes the stage
tossing balls high into the air
hand to hand, up and down
movements meant to distract
when the act conveys false tears
or shows the pain meant to tease
the truest show is hid inside
those quiet screams that never stop

what do I cover that you seek
the naked self you’d like to meet?
I would tell you if I knew
if I could find the pluck to disrobe
perhaps one day I’ll undress
take down the veils that distract
though I think it will take two of us
each with the will to do the same.

© 2017, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20170211.

“The Naked Self” begun as a poem for the challenge “write of stripping sensually for the sole purpose of enticing a partner.  No actual sex, just the disrobing”.  I never did enter that competition.  Instead I waited and then wrote a poem about the truest act of disrobing, the revelation of the inner self.  I catch glimpses of people at this level, and I hope that I am brave enough from time to time to go there, but I think I’ve never yet fully revealed the naked self.