On nudity.

None are the same, but all share a simple commonality.

Why is it that so many of us feel so uncomfortable in our own skin?
It is one thing all humans have in common, the ability to become naked.
To undress oneself from the layers of fabric we use
for warmth, for expression, for the mere purpose of hiding the natural body.
It is the societal norm to be clothed.

The areola of a woman's n*****s are a forbidden terrain
only to be explored behind closed doors.
The genetalia of a man is to remain a flaccid warrior
only to be called to duty once the zippered seal has been broken.
But aside from sex,
Why is it that so few of us enjoy our naked bodies on a regular basis?

We undress, we shower, we redress.
Rinse and repeat.
It is time we all explore our own curves and slopes without scrutiny or judgement.
Take time to memorize every freckle, birthmark, and scar.
Love yourself for the amazing being you have transformed into.
Nourish and praise the spiritual vessel that is your body,
for it has endured a life that is entirely yours.

We use and abuse our bodies, our skin and bones,
yet most never truly take the time to accept them for what they have become.
Worship and indulge in the miracle that is your living flesh,
because we are only given one for each life we may live.

It is time to find comfort, happiness, and security in our bare nakedness.
It is time to celebrate our raw and pure form.

Author's Note

I highly recommend reading barleygirl's rebuttal to this piece, "In Defense of Self-Consciousness", for a different and striking perspective on the topic at hand http://www.writerscafe.org/barleygirl

Reviews

[r. f. jordan]

Dear Nirvana,

though i don't believe we've previously communicated, i hope all is well with you. judging from this excellent piece, you certainly seem to be in a place of physical and emotional wellness. i was communicating with another poet on this site, today, about how my love for poetry includes any piece that challenges pre-conceived notions. this piece does a beautiful job of just such a lofty aim. it is concise, extremely well organized. most importantly, to me as a reader, is this poem's message of positivity and acceptance rather than conflict, alienation, or pessimism. "flaccid warrior" is definitely my favorite stone in that jewelry store full of gems that this poem represents to me. thank you for sharing your obvious talent with this site.

[Nirvana]

Dear r.f.,

Thank you so much for your kind words! It's a beautiful thing when the pen gets carried away and what's produced can still be easily understood. We haven't spoken before, but I'm looking forward to finding some "gems" on your page :)

[B J Hughes]

It figures that phrase would be af favorite Barley! :oD OK! OK! Put the knife down! There's nothing left to cut off!!! :oD LOLOLOLOL!!!

[Penemy of Pignorance]

Amerrycountry, and Marricage, are the only understandable fiction in univearth written in pure portmanteau style, by me of course! plz check them out at [email protected] (email:[email protected])

[Penemy of Pignorance]

Please read my amazing short stories: Marricage, and the next one: Vol-au-vent, Soda, and Books. They are available at my weblog: penemyofpignorance.blogfa.com
Why not check out my unique fiction Amerrycountry, Autorabiography, which is praised by Eagleton, Greenblatt, and D. Damrosch on amazon.
(Zadmehr Torabi)

[M P Ramesh]

NIRVANA,
Yes. Its only through poetry one can enter the bare truth AND THE KEY BEHIND SUCH A TRAVEL IN NOTHING MORE THAN A SINCERE meditation on beauty. The so called famous WORSHIPPER of beauty....yes...writer himself/herself.....has absolute freedom to publicize the manifesto.
You have attempted ....fine
carry on....


M P ramesh

[Carolynn]

Although you speak so freely of nudity which would make most "religious" people cringe your poem is deep in raw spirituality and depth - which is what this world needs. Very well written - you've expressed your thoughts beautifully :)

[Nirvana]

I was definitely going for a more artistic, less "erotic" aspect on this, because so often we are shown that being naked is simply for those who are uncivilized or loose in their ways. Thank you!

[avant security guard]

liked it
generally, anything with naked
or nude
or nudity in a poem
film
book
or story
is a winner

[richy]

Beautiful and straight forward. The most important part of this (aside from calling a penis a flaccid warrior) is how there is nothing to deter from your idea of the naked body. You forced nothing in this, just to "flash" ;) your pen. I love it.

[Nirvana]

Haha I was really going for the imagery aspect with that one

[barleygirl]

This is one of the best trains of thought I've read in a long time. It's not so much your writing I adore, but your THINKING! This is so well expressed, so logical, thoroughly-stated, with examples that are spot-on. We in the US are so weird about nudity. So many mixed messages everywhere. And hardly anyone is comfortable in their own skin! This is a remarkable statement about the most basic aspect of our being! Love it! Love it! Love it!

[Nirvana]

Thank you barleygirl! It's an amazing feeling to have the inner workings of one's mind praised by such generous comments.

[barleygirl]

At the risk of being a pest, I'm back to continue reviewing your very awesome statement piece here. Since I was still thinking about this message hours after I read & reviewed it yesterday, this in itself is part of my review. But mostly I wanted to say: This isn't just a poetic expression of some great ideas . . . this is a tightly-written persuasive essay, quite convincing becuz of it's non-judgmental presentation. It tempts me to write a rebuttal. I'm thinking about writing a defense of self-consciousness. You're inspiring me to break out of my usual Pollyanna writing style & tackle something more hard-hitting . . . I'm old, this may take awhile *smile*

[barleygirl]

I just posted my rebuttal . . .

[Nirvana]

I was going to tell you to absolutely write a counter piece! It's funny you mention that this is more of an essay style because I was actually talking to another user (richy) about how I find that most of my writing doesn't exactly fall under the poetry category. I'll continue this comment on your page!

[B J Hughes]

How sad that we are, most of us anyway, taught that acknowledging our bodies is something "dirty". Skin on skin, even if it's our own, is a pleasure, something that should be shared, even by ourselves. And who else better than ourselves to know the "how-to" of knowing our physical selves. And therein lies the reward, to be able to instruct a partner in the "how-to" of our personal pleasuring.

[Nirvana]

I have always thought "how do we expect to find pleasure with another before truly learning how to be pleased with ourselves" and I'm happy you analyzed this as such!

[B J Hughes]

Aye! A wise thought on so many levels: physically as well as spiritually and intellectually.