Skeletons

Humans are nothing but skeletons
wrapped with decorative skins;
once the breath ceases, the flesh decays,
and you can no longer tell
who was rich and powerful,
and who was poor and lowly. 

Remember, under your rotten skin
is a skeleton waiting to be revealed.
Ikkyu (1394-1481)
Translated by Prontobard - 2022)