I Am Who?

Written
2009

 Given some 80 plus years of effort,

       it is easy to figure out who you are.

I must say it did not take me all that time.

But the extra time gave me the chance

       to consider the validity of my conclusions.

I am who I am because of who I am not.

I am not Tarzan.

I proved that at eight

       as I tried to swing through the trees

       and fell with a humbling thump.

I am not Whizzer White.

I proved that at 10 when

       I dropped the ball

        when Harlan tackled me so easily.

I am not a gang leader.

Leroy Martinez set me straight

       when he beat me up for the third time.

Well, how about Fred Astair?

Afraid not, as pointed out

        by Theo Jean who noted

       I had the same dancing skills

       as the Broden's cow.

How about John Wayne of the Marine Corps?

Not with the combat area

        being the El Toro officer's latrine

        where cleaning urinals was my MSO.

Nor was I the community Errol Flynn.

Errol Flynn could dance

       and talk sweet and smart.

Well, how about the best scholar on campus.

Nope, not number 1 scholar.

There was Ivan, Hal and Barbara,

       who did knowledge easier, faster and better.

How about Mr. Chips in the classroom?

Close, but there was always first best,

       giving rise to another second best.

I also was not Ronald Coleman,

       great illustrative husband;

       after the second wife,

       I should try for Bachelor of the Year.

When the list of who I was NOT

       grew very long,

       I sat one day and made a list of who I could be,

       given all the things I was not.

Guess my diet of wine, jazz and Mexican food

       suggests a gourmand, if not gourmet.

Guess I have a bag-filled of life tattoos;

       observations, experiences, opinions

       and memories, building materials

      for casting a who.

Guess if it takes a community to raise a child,

       then it takes a lifetime to make a who.

 

Doug Minnis

December 12,2009

      

 

 

 

 

Notes
This is a poem That came to me in San Diego over Thanksgiving and I had time to think about how life might have been different.