“Undress Me Slowly” by Yelizaveta Tolstokoraya

UNDRESS ME SLOWLY

Yelizaveta Tolstokoraya*

Undress me slowly; It can take years to do properly. Take off and hang up my coat, Smell the freshness of my perfume And savor the sweetness of my voice. Pull me closer one step at a time, Day by day, Reveling in the feeling of my hand in yours. Take off my sweater And kiss my skin to warm it. As the layers come off, Learn where I like to be touched And what makes me gasp the loudest. Learn what makes me laugh, And laugh along with me. And when I cry, Just hold me tight so I don’t break. When I stand bare before you And have nothing else to hide, Don’t turn away –I know you won’t. I hope you won’t. Because by then You would have known me all along.