Where Am I? Poem by Usman Hanif

I’m nowhere
In the whereabouts
Of the realms
That never exist
But that doesn't bring me anywhere
I’m still nowhere…

To stand upon,
That nowhere should have the floor
But the place to stand upon
Must be somewhere.
And I’m nowhere...

To be present in nowhere
I’d have to be no one
And I’m someone
And someone’s always somewhere.
And I’m nowhere…

That nowhere is a place
‘tis the adjacent town of neverhood
Where no-one lived ever
And I reside there
In the neverhood
Where nothing existed!
Which means,
Still I’m nowhere

So here I am
In the world of worldly folk
Where nothing lives to see,
The existence of anything;
Anything that’s reality!
And I am the reality,
Living in the world
Which still leaves me nowhere
I’m still left nowhere...

09-01-2009