December 12, 2024

I left the bathroom, damp and stumbling     

with a cloth eratically wrapped around me as security

Two wooden panels tower over

My trembling fingers reach for the steel handle of the closet

 

Met by familiar hues and textures

Neatly folded clothes and a rack of outfits that hang from above 

Daring not to topple a stack or muck up any crease

my mind throbs to leave it as it is

 

Awakened by a shiver that crept up my spine

as cold air lingers on my exposed skin  

I search for something to start with—thoughtless and simple

Plain undergarments latch on   

 

Now the idea grows unchecked 

Hesitation muddles my vision 

To be reveled, should I fit into a theme

or vamp into someone avant-garde? 

 

A form-fitting shirt, coupled with belt and straps

paralyze my thoughts, yet dictate my subservience

Opting for one that is generously cut and flowing 

the pigments start to scream 

Vibrant yellows and greens are pockmarked with red

Now yearning for isolation,

a hooded jacket invites me to dwell in

 

Strenuously digging into this heap of threads

Some intricate ensemble I try to piece together

My eyes spin in a random direction 

Suddenly, a naked figure is looking back at me 

 

Messy and flushed by a stream of tears

The complexity of this feat now becomes clear

That is where it must lead

Beyond glamour is one’s verity 

 

A sourceless voice began to inquire

“How long will it take for this to be done?”

A reassured heart now speaks

“Until I am ready.” 

 

Piece by: Aerol Latina

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *