unadorned is unprepared

without all the makeup the wine birthmark shows ° without donning kevlar the soft flesh is pierceable ° without our pretense we aren’t so quick to pose ° the naked and shaven take so fierce a toll.

so ready your lipstick, foundation, concealer ° your narrative, ringlets, plans b through f, mask ° negotiate warfare ‘gainst foe/friend/revealer ° and say you’re just peachy, should anyone ask.