The author reflects on strippers and their vulnerability in baring themselves for audiences. She draws parallels between strippers removing layers of clothing and herself removing layers of concealment. Underneath her facade, she yearns for an honest writing career and supportive friends without judgment. Stripping exposes what lies beneath appearances, just as stripping paint from walls reveals the original material.

1. Stripped
By: Karen Pilarski
http://karenpilarski.blogspot.com/2
013/07/stripped-by-karenpilarski.html

2. The hot lights illuminate on the
sweaty brow. The silver thin pole in
the spotlight. A slender leg playing
peek-a-boo behind a red curtain.

3. Feet blistered from strutting
and turning in spiked high
heels. Gold body glitter
brushes off the arms as legs
spin around the pole and long
hair whips all over the place.

4. Loud music blaring and men in business
suits wagging tongues and panting.
Money in the process of being used to
tuck or tease. Voyeurism is medicine for
mediocre lives taken in sweet doses.

5. One last flash of hidden body
parts and lights go off. Onto the
next provocative dancer to keep
the audience enticed.
The last performer counts up her
money and a takes a quick sip of
water and changes into street
clothes. She maybe the lady of the
hour but not the lady of the night.

6. A job like this is either thought of as sexy or
seedy. I have never gone down this path. I have
heard of people who did this to pay for school or
pay off credit cards.
Lately I have had a new found respect for those
get naked. Modesty and lack of high self esteem
keeps me from disrobing on a stage.

7. I give major kudos to someone who can bare
everything for the room to see. On top of that gets
paid nicely if the night goes as planned. There is
vulnerability in a lack of covers and fabric. I'm guilty
of putting layers of clothes over myself.

8. A wall stripped of paint and wood
exposes what was hiding underneath
all along. Wires, scratches and manure
shaded paint coats the original
condition of the wall.

9. As women we are like a wall. We
cake on make up and attractive
clothes to smother what lies
beneath.

10. The wall of a brave face and cosmetics shelters us
from having to reveal ugly truths. Possibly it is
poverty, an unhappy marriage, losing a job or a credit
card purchase. The truths can be so simple like not
wanting to cook or hating the spiked high heels she
owns.

11. I can't speak for all ladies but I was brought up to
plaster on a happy face and accept the circumstances.
No longer a young girl, I can't bring myself to cover
up and conceal much longer.

12. Underneath the bright lights and facade is someone
who hates being lied to. Someone who longs for
writing career and a toned body. Someone who yearns
for a circle of people who won't deceive or judge.

13. Underneath the years of history
told in wall paper and paint is
me,
stripped.
karenpilarski.blogspot.com/2013/07/stripped-by-karenpilarski.html

14. Contact Karen Pilarski
If you enjoy my writing, check out my blog!
http://karenpilarski.blogspot.com/
Need a staff writer or freelance writer?
Send me an email at blueeditor79@gmail.com