The Sparkling Skin of New Life

How many faces have I worn and
Shed year after year?

Now, a naked face stares at me
As if in alien form, kind and soft
Supple and sweet
Free of hard worn frowns and wrinkles
Smooth as silk and fresh, not raw
Ungrooved, this new skin 
Symbolizing new life while those other faces are
At home, having done their time, served me well

Those faces grew out of need, and then wore off
Shredded by consternation and godless grief
This new skin has a sheen, hopeful
And bright, innocent and no longer
Searching for something else

The mouth so unfettered by stress
Relaxes and elongates, while inside
The tongue drops down 
From the roof of my mouth and 
Rests comfortably

My voice no longer needs
To shout and exclaim even though
All that boisterous activity was certainly
Worthwhile and worthy in its day

Peeking out from this tender, new skin
Calm eyes gaze and study the outside world
No longer as frightening and disturbing
Less impactful and difficult, more inviting
Little did I know that I have been protected
Throughout time by a knowledge and 
A wisdom that I did not understand  -  until now

Dwelling currently in the deep expanse of the universe
All the worlds, stars, moons, and galaxies
The liquids and gases, firing up then releasing
Rising up around and through me
I am part of these tingling juices
Flowing eternally with all those I have
Known and not known

All one
All here
All now