aging is the art of shedding those
superfluous layers of loose skin
until remains only the most
essential sense of you. ~ me

this
my second
skin
i leave you
tender
and hollow
outgrowing
the mold
of my first
making
for elemental
exposure
of what lies
beneath
soft
and slick
only slightly
vulnerable
for as long
as it takes
my outer
coat
to harden
armor

once
i knew you
as myself
we were
singular
in nature
we were
the same
and now i
float above
amazed
for while
i soldier on
you seem
to stand
still
statuesque
before me
perhaps
i look
similarly
in your eye
though in time
we both will
return to Earth
mere compost
and simple
sediment
but since
i am not
yet dead
i count my
growth
much more
important
than remaining
enveloped
inside of you.

exoskel1