The ME I carry inside

The ME I carry inside is the result of years of life experience,

Of good days and bad, of decisions and the lack of,

Of events I didn’t choose, and plans I mapped out,

Of goals and dreams and hopes, some realised, some put aside,

some relegated to darkest corners of my memory;

Of people I have encountered along the way

Of joys and sorrows shared, connections made,

Of pain concealed and private reflection, veiled belief and unspoken debate,

Of contemplation, musings and silent brooding.

The ME I carry inside is the product of psychological carcinogens,

Of cerebral warfare, bayonets and subliminal Molotov cocktails

Of emotional barbed wire and incarceration

The target of soul destroying machine guns and flame throwers

Mere cannon fodder in someone else’s pitiful game.

A pawn, a pilgrim, journeyman, jester and vagrant.

A queen, a fool, artisan, washerwoman and dreamer.

The ME I carry inside is…