You can search through my hair to ensure airport security.

You can bar  and color- code my skin.

You can socially position my body, marginalize or center.

But, you cannot touch who is within.

***

You can count me, number me: minority and majority.

You can in and out me, believe in and doubt me.

You can even create a society that suggests it can live without me.

But, you cannot touch the inner life; say what you will.

I can never run out of me.

***

You can size up my lips and measure the width of my hips.

 You can shape my nose and eyes.

You can categorize these body parts as good or bad.

But you cannot touch who I am inside.

***

You can have what belongs to the earth.

“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”

Box it up, label and keep it.

Because my soul, you cannot touch.