Wares Poem by ENRIQUE WINTER

I didn't have an imaginary friend.
I didn't climb trees or into a tree house with him
I didn't form a gang or make blood pacts with the neighbors.
I didn't play out in the streets with them,
I didn't dirty myself with mud because they did
or go inside for home-cooked food.
I didn't wear overalls like my brother.
I didn't like the prettiest girl in my class, I didn't start any clubs.
I wasn't a punk or a metalhead. I didn't act in a theater group.
I didn't join a sports club or a soccer league
much less an urban tribe.
I wasn't a member of the neighborhood association.
I didn't campaign for a political party.
I seldom went to family birthday parties. I didn't know my younger relatives.
I didn't move in with my girlfriend or project myself beyond her hips.
I didn't call and no one called me every day.
No one gave themselves entirely to me and I to no one. I didn't ask it.
I didn't have a group or a close circle of friends.
There was no guild to ask for work,
I didn't turn to influential protectors, nor did I have any.
I didn't study with my classmates.
I didn't plot with a group to get anyone into office.
No one came to meet me when I moved to new cities and I had no permanent address.
I didn't out of insecurity buy the same cigarettes or alcohol
that I saw on TV. I didn't have a TV or anything it advertised.
I had no dependents on my health insurance policy, nor did I have health insurance.
Or name brand clothing, nor did I need it.
I didn't sign up for instant messaging, blogs, photologs, or facebook.
I didn't have debts or pretend to own more than I did.
My past has never seemed better to me.
I didn't trade my life for anyone else's and I wouldn't.
I didn't burden anyone with my problems because they seemed less serious
and everyone else's annoyed me a little.
I am absolutely free (and I regret it).