I Celebrate Myself
by Shawn Smith- August 18, 2006
I celebrate myself
The sun rises and sets upon me
The moon and stars light up the evening sky
for my navigation
The water flows in yonder brook to quench my thirst
The berries hang heavy on the vine and
the vegetable increases its girth in the ground for my nourishment
The wind blows for me
The whistle that you hear is for my entertainment
The rain falls from the sky for my benefit
The universe revolves around me
I am the center
All else is merely the periphery
In me is amassed all wisdom and knowledge
Sages and other men and women of learning bow at my feet
They feel humbled in my presence
In the halls of Parliament
laws are passed about me
Behind the secret door
I am discussed at great length
When the heart of an aged man ceases to beat
I am saddened
When the babe ceases its weeping,
turns blue, then silent
It is I who sheds a tear
When the bombs fall upon the innocent
it is I who am enraged
It is MY feelings
It is MY longings
It is MY aspirations
There is only one stomach
There is only one beating heart
There is only one set of lungs
There is only one pair of eyes
There is only one desire
There is only one correct opinion
They are ALL MINE, MINE I say
Yes, I celebrate myself
And I bask in all that is me
As I soak in the warmth of the raging fire
which soothes me in the coolness of the darkest night
I tap my toe in step with the fiddler's tune
I feast on the bounty of the earth
while those around me waste away
I glory in my exalted position
while the concerns of the voiceless masses remain unheeded
Perhaps you call me selfish
Perhaps you think I possess too high an estimation of myself
Perhaps you think I am the epitome of narcissism
But look upon me with care
With an attentive eye cast a second glance upon what I have written
For in me and my words
you will find a reflection of yourself