Pondering Poetic

I Am Neither a Sacrilege or A Privelige. I May Not Be Competent or Excellent, But I Am Present.

(The most profound poem I think I have ever read. It has been with me for a while. )

My happiness is me, not you.
Not only because you may be temporary,
But also becasue you want me to be what I am not.

I cannot be happy when I change
Merely to satisfy your selfishness.
Nor can I feel content when you critcise me for not
thinking your thoughts,
Or for seeing like you do.
You call me a rebel.
And yet each time I have rejected your beliefs
You have rebelled against mine.
I do not try to mold your mind.
I know you are trying hard enough to be just you.
And I cannot allow you to tell me what to be--
for I am concentrating on being me.

You said that I was transparent
And easily forgotten
But why then did you try to use my lifetime,
To prove to yourself who you are?
Michellle

I got this poem from one of my favorite books by Leo Buscaglia. He quoted it in his book Living,Loving , & Learning. On the inside of this manuscript written by Michelle was this introduction:
Michelle! You were with us for such a short time before choosing that fog-swept beach to continue on your way. It was July 1967, and you were only 20.
She left us 25 poems. She found it too hard to be "just me."
We hope these poems are presented as you wish, Michelle. You are present, we love you and we need you, and we promise we will remember, until we meet again
........San Fransicco, July 1969.

posted by CBlair @ 10:32 PM