The Words Undress You

The words undress you,
leave you raw,
naked,
exposed

in the weather, where
everyone can see your
truth,
can see

your heart,
your unique brokenness,
the truth of your fears,
your cries for help, like owls in the night

and yet, somehow,
they don’t.
The words, so painful to say
drift past them

like fog, burning away in the late morning sun,
in their own versions,
in a dozen languages

of their own making,
that, though false,

burn hot.

============

Confession time. I stole the title from some line I saw in passing on the internet. I wish I could refer you to it’s originator, and thank them for their inspiration.

But the poem, alas is mine. Blame me exclusively for it.

The picture is mine too. It was taken at Wilson Castle, in Procter, Vermont, during a recent visit there with Rona. You can click on it for a larger version.

Tom