the self you leave behind is only the skin you’ve outgrown
like a snake
many a skin has been shed
in slithering forth on this journey 
skins discarded bringing one closer to the one meant to be

the skin of the young braided co-ed restless and determined
skin of the invincible youngin’ who jumped a freight hitching west to east
tasting her conservative history and solid stability
this travel skin lit a match in the soul of a restless gypsy

the skin of the ever-searching ever-questioning Catholic
one who sought spiritual refuge in a Guru in an Ashram
meditating, fasting, practicing yoga’s fifth limb, prudent pratyahara
skin that withdrew the senses from external objects to turn deeply inward

to peel back the skin of samskaras ~ the subtle mental imprints left by past
thoughts, actions and incarnations
a skin that served to quiet the mind and instill deeper states of meditation

now after years on this slithering journey a dire need is embraced to place self-care, deep listening and repetition of loving self-commentary a daily practice of reptilian survival

to lead with Love in the crusade of desert survival
to compliment the trials and glean the gifts of wisdom
to be charmed by the hypnotic flute of innocent truth