I lift my hand to stroke her neck
But she leans the other way
Closing her eyes she turns her back
And climbs out of the bed
The window is open and she stands
Bare, like a portrait
Staring at the stars
Staring at the earth below them
Staring at nothing
She doesn’t turn around when she speaks
And her voice carries
Out with the wind

I join her but
She still doesn’t stir
I don’t tell her what I’m thinking
Because it’s stupid
And I don’t want to be stupid
But she knows, anyway

The pale shade of her skin reflects
The moon and makes her look
Like a ghost
Or a spirit
Or god.
I open my mouth to tell her
But she looks at me

With no particular expression
That is the most particular of expressions
And I know that nothing I say
Will be good enough

So I stand there with her
And stare
And suddenly I understand
What it feels like
To be Naked.