Facing Myself Poem by RIC BASTASA

do not ask me who i am
whether i have understood this self so well
or yourself

we always reason out
about the mysteries that surround our beings

i will give no answer
silent as a zipper

i close the door of my mouth
and go inside my esophagus

this slimy self that wants to be out
but cannot

in the mirror however
like the sun with so much light

i face myself and
check

this is beautiful i tell myself
i repeat it many times

i close the window of my soul
not wanting that you hear

any of these dialogues
this narcissism of the self unto itself

in the pond of my eyes
the mirror that shows what reflection is there

of the soul to the body
the body that is warm and touched