NOT MYSELF


(After reading Modern Japanese Poetry & James Tait.)


I'm not myself today.
The phone rang & I answered:
Sorry, I'm not here right now.
The voice said: Where are you then?
I said: I don't know, hope I come back soon.

My mail arrived & I marked it:
Return to sender, unknown at this address.

I'm not myself today
But I don't know who I am.
I was myself last month
Until we had that argument.

You accused me of being selfish.
I said: No I'm not, I'm self-centred.

You said you were leaving me.
I shouted: Yeah, well,
I can't live with myself either.
I was beside myself
& the next second I was gone.

I'm missing me.
I hope I'm alright.
Tomorrow when I wake
I want to be my old self again.

If you see me around
Please tell me to go back
But be gentle.
If you were me
You wouldn't be yourself either.


Myron Lysenko
17dr: 22.1.02