Bare Witness

I tear off my clothes, and

pitch them into the fire

and watch the flames

consume my decency,

my social propriety.

My inner self, revealed

in my outer self

brings joy, brings rebuke

the wrong-headed doctrine

of a thousand generations.

When I am in a suit

who do you say I am?

When I stand before you naked

who do you shame I am?

Reclaim your body

reclaim your true self

and cast society’s hangups

into the crucible of freedom.