A Brief History of Nakedness by Flower Conroy

A Brief History of Nakedness

by Flower Conroy

(published in Duende, Issue 2, 2015)

In the beginning was clay 

made flesh & tingle, & a tree 

akimbo.  Rosy kernel buds 

& dripping limbs, a glimpse

of petal.  A winged breeze,

breath changed into angel,

rustled the greenest green 

grass, the bride’s muff, 

& the groom’s tuft of chest hair.  

This was nakedness’ first gesture: 

not the legs, the knees 

& elbows of the descending nudes—

but that incarnation betwixt  

branches, halo-less, butterf...