Who Am I?

Once in a while I am gripped by a desire

Of my own self discernment to acquire

Though knowing who I am I probe and try

My quest still remains without reply

Maybe I’m still a boy so deep inside

When all weighty thoughts I set aside

Life was so forgiving, simple and free

Laughter was my constant company

Maybe I’m a teenager after all

When I felt stronger after every fall

The future seemed to have no limitation

The spirit energized the imagination

Maybe I have remained a tired adult

Who of his work had made enslaving cult

Feeling compelled to play a scripted part

Unwilling to assuage my wailing heart

Maybe I’m only who I seem to be

Just an old man, no more than what you see

Remembering the dreams that weren’t true

Regretting what I could and didn’t do

My bones are aching and my hair is grey

A youthful spirit still my heart can sway

Though I can’t run, my fancy still can fly

For in my mind the limit is the sky

The knowledge of ourselves we seek in vain

Perhaps this knowledge isn’t worth the pain

If we don’t know who we really are

We still can play and travel very far