The Elusive Self
Who is it that sees From behind my eyes? Who is it that hears Through my ears? What is this self That I cling to so fiercely? How shall I explore The boundaries of my being?
My cells containing stardust Are slightly outnumbered by Microbes that call my body home Only because trees breathe out Is my in-breath made possible Preoccupied as I am in thoughts Their origin leaves me confounded My dreaming avatar seems grand Living a life utterly unlike mine
And yet I’m dogged by certitude That I’m defined by this body To which I attach a name Tag on parentage and ethnicity Often describe my personality In answer to “Who are you?” Only when touched by moments of grace Do I notice I am an enwebbed Assemblage of ecosystems Where yesterday and tomorrow Dance on the edges of now.
A profound and inspiring poem. A whole world of philosophies, lived experience and gleaned self-knowledge encapsulated in three verses, each opening a portal into a different dimension.
Thank you so very much for sharing, Jayasree ✨ 💗🙏
Another "favorite," Jayasree! All of the people, single- to multi-celled, jostling and bumping into each other inside my brain, and all inhabiting this biosphere called Carolyn are smiling and appreciating your words right now.