laid bare

it happened once again, i fear
let my flesh drop in front of leers
and showed the nerves and bones so white
and flexed the muscle fil'ments tight
to show the stuff of which i'm made
allowed the skin to slowly fade
and op'd my veins to the cold, still air
and watched their eyes my form ensnare
and felt the scalpel sharp and cold
but never had i felt so bold
until my heart they up and sold
for a vat of ash and lump of gold