Strip Before the Styx

Charon demands us to disrobe Sell your layers for coins Some with less have more to trade Better than becoming chained ghosts Our suits and dresses tie us down Being nude again will be sobering After a year of stripping down Sobriety feels too brisk I put on Italian wine’s garment It tells me to pour layers on It tells me to put on the full suit I refuse to put on the regalia Strut at home alone in my finery? I never knew I was wearing wealth I never knew my addictions were bank Being naked is hard for addicts The sober ones streak without a clue No clue about pleasure and pain’s weight My wine-soaked skin hidden is nice Old garments repurposed again Addiction feels like comforting cloth For once I’m not self-conscious I’m Adam before the Fall unashamed He sold his snakeskin boots Charon will strip us when it’s time When we die, does it matter our attire? We go with our makeup off Better to peel off the layers now Than gasping for one more breath Holding onto our negligees or pj We were born without clothes Through the years layers are laid We all strip off old selves We layer on new selves Addicts have the most coats on The ones with the pearliest of skins The sober ones freckled by the sun We with crutches are most prized When the ferryman asks for your coins When Charon asks to lighten your load Addicts can hock all their clothes Strip down, turn burdens to gold For a ticket to ride across Finally free of attire We can all retire