Naked

You always ask
to see what’s underneath
here there are layers, you see
folded over on each other
bound tightly and secured
but you’re an artist
in finding ways to breach security
up close now, you see vulnerable places
you see a path to invasion
and you’re on your way
and here, I stop you,
here, I say
“go slowly”
here, it’s a stripping away
one layer at a time
I say
“be gentle”
here, it’s delicate
each layer, falling away,
I say
“this is me”
here, I am afraid
I say
“stay with me”.