This piece deals with the strange duality we all carry with us through life, the unique contradiction between the person we think we are, and the “many” varying persons others perceive us to be, from their experience of us, as filtered through their differing individual perceptions. Fair or not, convenient or not, we are “judged”. Our lives are impacted, to one degree or another, every day by how we measure up to each of these interpretations of the “I” we are thought to be. This includes the “I” we perceive ourselves to be. Which one is real? Which is valid? Or is any one of them truly definitive? The phrase “I am” presents a fascinating philosophical quandary.
”Ask not, who are we — existentially, we are me.”
When another
tells you of yourself
you’re shown the dance they see
your outward choreography
they hear not the music
that rings true within your mind
that leads and drives your steps
to your inward dance — they’re blind
others see a reflection
not the light that shines inside
that illuminates your soul
to guide your steps and stride
so, are we the “I” we know
the self that we so treasure
or are we in fact — another
the one the others measure
if the authentic “I”
be the one outward shown.
then we are in fact — the “I”
to ourselves — not known
for surely when compared
the majority story shared
is of the outward other
the one seen by another
and so we live our life
cloistered in this outward other
and live this life alone
even when by many known
for the “I” that’s outward shown
is likely the “I” that’s not our own
to be truly known is an unlikelihood
we are all so easily misunderstood
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: The Sunday Muse
