Skin My Protection

I'd peel off my skin and cover you

Not only to make yours thicker

But to warm you in my blood, sweat, and love

Because you, beautiful creature, deserve a better fate

From time to time, I burn my hair, face, and body

To be fair enough for the touch of your brightened reflections of me

Suffocate my lungs with the most gorgeous of cloths

Paint my face over with colored powders and animal paste

Lather and layer over every speck of me

Stress my curves

Cloak my flaws

Mask my trace

Then with great courage and fear

Skin my protection

Pluck my nerves

Unmask my vulnerability

In hopes that one day

You'll love more than just my plastered parts.

-- V.L. Gonzalez