Sunday, July 22, 2012

Who Am I?

(In and Out, © Jill Arent, 2009)


Who Am I?


Just in the nick of time,
I figured out that who I am does 
not have to be who I was.
Looking backward, I was trapped in 
selves that no longer fit.
Looking forward I am completely free, 
which is a trap all its own.
Everything is possible – or is it?
In any given moment,
Someone, somewhere is stuck 
between a rock and a hard place –
A sword and a stone.
When you don’t know 
what you are looking for, 
Rarely will you find it.
I see that now, and realize
There is no need to fear freedom or 
worry about what I will find if I look.
Everything has a time, a place, 
a reality of its own – 
Reaching for it can only help.


 © Jill Elizabeth Arent Franclemont

Jill Elizabeth Arent Franclemont, a  former corporate attorney and government relations and health policy executive, walked away (well, skipped actually) from the big-city worlds of corporate and political America and headed for a more literary life (equally challenging, but infinitely more enjoyable).  Visit Jill at All Things Jill-Elizabeth and leave a comment about her poem below.
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María's avatar

María · 667 weeks ago

Great poem. Perfectly balanced and with its apparent simplicity grabs you where it should.
Well done Jill.
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tikenmoose 30p · 667 weeks ago

This is my favorite poem you've posted so far. What an amazing thing, to realize that who you are doesn't have to be who you thought you were? Love it!
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jillelizabethadmin 23p · 667 weeks ago

I definitely appreciate the comments, thanks so much Sharon and Claudia!

This one really is about finding a way to recognize that we are constantly changing, and that who we have been does not have to dictate who we become - and vice versa, if that makes any sense. It's also about the scariness of freedom, and how a panoply of choices can be just as paralyzing and limiting as no choices. I hope that it manages to capture some of the confusion that we face when we move forward - confusion that, at its heart, lies in the concept of change.

Incidentally, the picture is from the Tower of London, which I found particularly poignant as an illustration for the poem - a lot of people spent a lot of time looking out those very windows, sitting locked inside a room simply because of who they were/what they believed...
1 reply · active 667 weeks ago
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ScarlettRains 52p · 667 weeks ago

The picture fits the poem beautifully. I did not realize the historical significance of it, but was struck by it as a symbol of transitioning.
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DM Yates · 667 weeks ago

What a lovely poem. I really enjoyed reading this.
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claudia messelodi · 667 weeks ago

I liked reading Jill's poem, I agree with her when she says that everything has its own time and place and that there's no need to worry about the future, her words are so enlightening!
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ScarlettRains 52p · 668 weeks ago

Thanks for stopping by, Sharon. I'm sure Jill appreciate's it too. You'll have to send me your work.
All the best.
My recent post Peace, community, and sustainability begins with us.
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Sharon Rose Guyton · 668 weeks ago

I write poetry also; poetry is something I am passionate about. I liked the concept of this poem. Easy to understand. Thanks for sharing! www.facebook.com/parentswanttoknow101

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