The skin: When washing, pause a moment

cleverly covering the entire human body —
apart from essential orifices
such as mouth, nose, ears and eyes —
to facilitate taste, smell, hearing and seeing;
and of course, lower down, for ease of expelling,
and other pleasurable activities —
what a remarkable garment, straight from Eden.
On the newborn, soft as a succulent peach
(my friend told me that in Fiji they gently stroked
the cheek of her just-born child, in delight and wonder,
at the delicate soft, smooth, silky skin);
And each time we hold a tiny child
we are again delighted by this taken-for-granted,
washable, dryable, ever-expanding garment.
And permanently renewable, capable of endless replacement,
though fading a little, showing creases from wear and tear,
But pretty reliable, made to exclude invaders
(unless its defences are damaged by excessive tattooing).
Treat it with loving care, protect from damage, dryness
or the attacks of moaning-wheezers (alias mosquitoes)
cherish it, nourish it, enjoy it — black, brown or ochre — all beautiful;
thank it as you wash the smell and grime off and recall: Off, off you lendings,
cries king Lear, recognising that, nakèd, we are nothing
but poor, bare, forked creatures;
Gloriously robed in skin.