Alter Ego Poem by Ray Mather

Someone I know
Dislikes me, think,
Presses me hard
For “Just one more drink...”
He makes me stay
When I’ve got to go,
He knows so well
That I can’t say no.
He ruffles my hair
And batters my face;
Puts all my papers
And books out of place.
My body is sore
When he’s finished his game;
My house, upside down,
Is never the same.
He tempts me to eat
The worst kinds of food,
Encourages me loudly
To be very rude,
Then turns around
When the flak starts to fly,
He’s always the first one
To vilify.
I’m just not sure
How much I can take,
All of these years
With hardly a break.
I must make a stand
And drive him from sight
But the trouble, you see...
It’s ME I’ve to fight!


(1996)