Underneath

If you peeled back the freckled skin,

stripped away the flesh,

unfiltered the voice,

let slip the mask,

and took a backwards step

to examine your work, you’d find

the truest version of the individual before you radiating a color that you

don’t see.

but almost taste.

barely smell.

and completely

feel.

And if you take it in,

this colorful and colorless soul,

colorful in its entirety,

colorless in that the hue, saturation, brightness of this entity has yet to be named,

if you take it in…

you might breathe in countless sunrises,

you may absorb a million lessons learned,

you can taste the lands traveled to,

and feel the vibrations of each song sung.

Linger longer…

You will be dizzied by desires and dreams still left to be dreamed,

captivated by the many roles they’ve played:

sister daughter liar

friend lover aunt

teacher artist imitator

…and the roles they have yet to play.

Absorb this light.

Take the risk.

Like inspiration, let it fill you with bliss.

Then close your eyes. Invite the darkness.

Hold on to the memory of the soul you witnessed.

Don’t let it go.