Barrel of might

I’m a barrel of might, a river horse from Africa

Can you see wondrous valences coming out of my skin?

Red pigments built with carbon, oxygen and hydrogen

Atoms united by the holy hands

Trickles of blood that are not blood, but only secretions

Eyes of the ancient Greeks were attestants to this splendour

I’m thankful to all the water-repellent chemicals

Fluid-coloured as the sun lights and tans

Magic ointments that protect my skin from microbes and heat

Formulations of sweat designed for wealthy purposes

Hooray for analogues of hipposudoric acid

Living on my body in red strands