Alexander Hawkins

Let's take off all our clothes. It's time for shamelessness.
On nights of self-reflection, we go skinny-dipping with our self-perception.
We join the stars dancing on the water
and we emerge, red-skinned not red-faced. A collared dove coo-coo-coos

on nights of self-reflection. We go skinny-dipping with our self-perception
just to get away from the great greyness of being,
and we emerge red-skinned, not red-faced. A collared dove coo-coo-coos,
a sudden vivacity that jolts the unshy air. Is the thought of escapism

(just to get away from the great greyness of being)
a thought that can overcome us all?
A sudden vivacity that jolts the unshy air is the thought of escapism
suffixing the swagger of the six o'clock swill.

A thought that can overcome us all:
‘Let's take off all our clothes, it's time for shamelessness.'
Suffixing the swagger of the six o'clock swill,
we join the stars dancing on the water.