Tough Me Appeared 3.30.2009 Poem by Margaret Alice

Sensitive
me cannot do administration,
the dreamer within me cannot type a list,
walking about as sensitive me nearly dying
of fatigue, trying to work as soft me I fall apart,
so I got up, shouted loudly, clapped my hands,
jumped up and down, sensitive me left and tough
me appeared; soft, feeling me is a basket case,
cannot do anything, moping about with no ability,
no strength, no power, I cannot live life like that,
so lock up her thoughts, don’t let her get out, here
we have tough and strong and cynical me to do
administration, only she can function within
meaningless life in routine, she can work up
energy to get busy, she doesn’t feel much –
that is her salvation, she is loud and full of
joie de vivre, without her feelings become
overpowering – but problem solved, with
tough me in charge, I can do things I hate,
read books I detest, deal with life without
getting hurt, without stumbling and
falling down, without needing time
to contemplate…