what who is this that i be (a tonal drawing written in poetic form)

"i've lost the way
of what there's left
of me that i brung
in them ship how i come
in this room it dark
caint see where my face
caint tell who this is
caint find where this place
how far is i from
this here where i come
how long i must go
'fore will i never gone know"

what who is this that i be

who is this i said was me
the one outside through whom i see
or somebody else i wish i was
what's this i feeling i cannot see
this hole it here inside of me
is i the fault for what i be
or this scared wrapped here
around my knees
and what can i supposed to do
if nobody sees nobody in here
not even me
who dat gon come and rub me warm
'cause there aint no yesterday
so how come it i always have to cry
and why it never nobody else besides me
who's the one that supposed to die

Copyright © 1993 Asili Ya Nadhiri