I am not Me 
  

I will write a poem 
... 
I start by waiting 
waiting for the sound 
of the voice in my head 
... 
sometimes it speaks quickly 
sometimes it speaks slowly 
sometimes it speaks silence 
... 
who is this voice 
is this an - other me 
this voice in my head 
... 
the English language 
has declared the word 
"me" 
to be singular 
but  -  that cannot be 
... 
I remember as an infant 
being consciously aware 
no words did I have then 
just feeling memories 
of touch 
of sound 
of taste   
of smell  
of seeing 
... 
but now words I attach 
to those feeling memories 
of gurgling  
of pressure  
of spreading warmth 
of cold air 
of hugging other warm skin 
of other beating heart 
of other bone and flesh 
of seeing the light 
yes I remember 
my infant body feelings 
but - where are they kept 
... 
in the mirror my body I see 
is that me 
is my body me 
if - my body is me  
who am I 
... 
my body and I  
make two not one 
... 
but 
who is that voice 
that voice I hear in my head 
it comes from where 
... 
if I am not one - who is aware 
if I am not two - who is body 
If  I am not three - who is voice 
yet - I - am 
then - I am all - three 
if I am all three - then 
I am not me 
 
 

Keith  O'Connor 
Ottawa  Canada 
aug  15  2001 
www.tinmangallery.com