I Was Born Naked Poem by Shriram Iyengar

I was born naked
On a warm April afternoon
I fought my way through
A dark, watery womb that
Trapped my unconscious body
Which, upon its waking, found
Its prison excruciatingly painful
And broke those walls on its
Way to freedom.

I was born naked.
In the midst of civilization
They clothed me in culture,
Fed me language, taught me religion,
And covered me in race,
Till could not see beyond
What I had learnt.

I was born naked.
And taught to be ashamed of it.
I became someone I never knew
To please someone I knew.
I slept at nights to forget
The days I lived.

I was born naked.
And will die just so
As naked as you,
When you walk through the gates
Of heaven or hell.
For the Truth is naked.
And so is God.