Skin

As my flesh wakes I
slip out of mind and into you,
oh  fragile sleeve - you
who sweetly surrender to curve
of muscle and bone.

Your tight fibers that wind around
my eyes and loose lips,
the cracks of my stiffened fingers,
gently stretch themselves
over broken veins and bad joints.

Tenderly you hold
the memories and mishaps of

trips, rips, risen scars;

to you they are bound.

You forgive, and mend to forget.

How quickly you yield

to make room for my harsh requests,

to take on demands.

Modeling generosity,

you never complain.

When summer comes your pigment blooms,

and peeling valleys, 

filled with freckle-dust, paper your

creases with sand-shaves.

Your folds never discriminate.

You have given much,
merciful membrane, that the whole
of life incarnate
should choose you as Love's pure vessel,
Divine sack for grace.

Solid sheet-wrap of timorous

flesh, you caress my

quiet thoughts so tenderly.
Dear skin, you are the
earth, sky and muddy water who
make their home my own.