Monday morning shower

to wash away the weekend,

prepare for return to civilization.

 

Water rushes over dirt-stained knees,

coloring white bathtub brown,

muddy memory of crawling through jungles.

 

Shampoo scrubs out twigs, leaves,

sticky remnants of swinging through trees.

 

Facial cleanser exfoliates away two oily days,

slippery shadow of leaping through forests.

 

Fingernails rid each other of grimy substance,

one by one, deleting evidence,

gritty proof of hanging from cliffs.

 

Razor trims stubbly growth,

prickly artifact of primitive communion.

 

Steam clears filthy pores,

stubborn memorabilia from earth’s damp bed.

 

Soap foams across glowing limbs,

fading sun’s colorful embrace,

a hangover from drinking too much sky.

 

Towel wipes away wet drops,

leaving me dry, squeaky clean,

a restless, reluctant participant

in this long, tame week.