dis clothed

i am batik

i am botany

i am litmus

i am lye

dip me in the deep

over and over again

soak me in the soup

sink me in the sludge

mire me in the murk

deliver me to the shore

then bring on the rain

see what i retain

i have absorbed

only that which was

meant to be mine

i release the rest

to rest

and once again

i return

to my cloth

i am batik