The Letter I Poem by Jeremy Goodman

i have but yet a sImple ply.
oh why i ask, am i an i
when i could be a one or two.
or possIbly a W.
wIth all the curves, alone/combIned
but i am sImple, a dot, a lIne
and when alone i stand quIte tall
when others near, my stature falls
to be sImply, a dotted lIne.
sIttIng uprIght, on Its sIde.
to let them know that i am here.
and tell them that i do not fear
the rules that tell me what to do.
Ill break the bonds that hold me to
the paper i am put upon.
when wrItten words shall soon be gone.
turned Into dust from tImes embrace
but one small question stIll In waIt,
an answer you cannot foresee.
for i am here, and i am me.
but alas i am also i?
when i am you and you are i.
but i can also be a me.
when me Is hIm and he Is she.
put sImply, i am never known.
somethIng here but rarely shown
In the shape that i was born.
but the meanIng that i stand for worn.
Into the fabrIc of these tImes.
for i am i, and i wont dIe
untIl there Is no you or me.
or he or she or them or they.
and i wIll not be understood.
for i wIll stand in chIldhood.
and i wIll stand when i am grown.
lIke the rest when fully blown
to theIr sIze at head of lIne.
but none can stand alone as i.
(Oct.1st.2008)