The Big Question: Who Am I? Poem by Etienne Charilaou

The Big Question: Who Am I?



Part 1

I am this body, and I'm not this body.
For a limited time only: 3-in-one:
body - mind - soul,
bodymindsoul
bdymndsoul
bymnsl
bms
.

All of the above, none of the above.

The Earth is Heaven.
The Earth is Hell.
Earth is also Earth.

All of the above, none of the above.

Mozart plays intermittently in my mind at my command.
Body breathes, fingers type, eyes look at screen, body relaxed.
Soul sees, soul is…
ALL!

Forgive this fool who confuses y'all!

*smiles sadly*

Part 2

The words of Master d speak most eloquently:

I have lost most of my sense of taste.

I have realized that I cannot assume
a constant stream on voice and taste,
and the hundred other unknown things
a tongue does, as part of my default self.

The tongue is a thing, a chunk of disturbing meat.
Agile, talented, magical, but crucially, not mine to control.
It gives the sense that it is mine. Taste was mine.
Speech was mine, until the muscles began to quiver.

You feel your I in your head, behind your eyes;
but when you see your tongue as separate, well…!

You start to see all the intimate parts.
Eye one. Eye two. Where does sight sit?
Brains too, many parts.
Tease them apart, keen, cold bacterium.
Let me grasp the truth while you undo I.

Part 3

Who is ‘I'?
One thing I can guarantee
‘I' is not who you think yourself to be!

Part 4

[ ]

Part 5

It's ok. Don't worry; don't be afraid.
All will be well, in the end.
And if you believe in Jesus,
you will always have a friend.

Sunday, September 25, 2016
Topic(s) of this poem: disease,self
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