I love skin
cracked skin
skin that splits
stretches folds and doesn’t break
that shamelessly flaunts
its wrinkles
skin that’s faced
a thousand and one wounds
and never surrendered
peeling skin
from so many struggles with life
I love skin as smooth
as a barely opened bloom
skin undefiled
by any scratch
skin with a jet-black smile in the dark
by turns dull and glowing
alabaster and rosy skin
skin restrained
by inexperience mixed with modesty
ready to change texture and hue
at the slightest emotion
skin showcasing the intimate
princess-like skin
in the filthiest mire
courtesan skin sprawled in silk
I love skin steeped
in curiosity and lust
skin that doesn’t make a fuss
that gets so dizzy with pleasure
it can’t save its own skin
creaky skin
that keeps moving
skin like an old carrosserie
seasoned with yesteryear’s luster
nostalgic skin
without bitterness
eternally thirsty skin
that says yesterday but thinks
today more than tomorrow
skin that lives believe me
hic et nunc skin
skin adorned with impatience
drunk always from stirring up the blood
I love skin
that smells of ylang-ylang
skin with the smell of lemongrass at daybreak
or when the day hesitates procrastinates
before tumbling into night
musky skin
smelling like mangoes from childhood
skin with the smell of exotic fruits
like simmering peaches or apples
green tea skin fragrant with elsewhere
skin smelling of sweat
then of bougainvillea
I love skin most of all
that has lived skin
that has joyfully rubbed itself
against a thousand other skins
skin that is skin
I love your skin
Louis-Philippe Dalembert (born 1962) Haiti
Translated by: Nancy Naomi Carlson
Source: InTranslation
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