Your Story Poem by Katarina Rheeder

I know your story
I saw you as an old man
You had your back turned to me
Curly, sparse, black hairs on your neck
Your back slightly hunched
I knew it was you, even before you turned around
You acted like you had never left my side
You shared recollections about childhood folk tales
At first I didn't know them
But then I realised -
I know all your stories
I have read all these books
Roamed these ornate pages
I know everything you know
Because these are my stories too
Because I am you
So why would I hide these stories from myself?
Who am I trying to protect?
Me... or me?
I found you again as a child
I sought you on the street
As I turned the corner, you were riding your bike
Just like I knew you would be
I had to stop you
You couldn't go down that road
There was too much pain at the end
The bully called life, looming tall and strong
But I am stronger
I will fight for you
I will fight for me
So one day you can remind me of our story