If It Was Not For Me Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

If it was not for me,
You wouldn't be on my mind.
No, you wouldn't.
If it was not for me,
Who else would not be eating.
Resting.
Or getting any sleep at all.

And if it was not for me,
Gazing into your eyes.
As you pass me on the street.
To look at me up and down.
As if we had not yet met to greet.

Well...
I could do the same thing if I wanted to.
Leaving you to wonder,
Who it is I am.
But you know what?
One day I am going to introduce myself.
And I bet I will leave you wondering,
Why I have not been on your mind.
Like you have been on mine.
Especially when I have given you,
Enough time to do it.
To discover for yourself,
Just how selfish you have been.
Permitting to allow but could prevent,
Such emotional anguish.

"Uh...uh...
Do I look familiar to you?
Maybe just a little bit? "

-No. Not even a lot.
But...
You do remind me of my grandfather.-

"Oh? Okay."

-And?
Is that it? -

"Well...
I was hoping more for a brother.
Or perhaps an uncle.
Maybe a...classmate. Maybe? "

-No.
Definitely my grandfather.-