I To I Poem by RIC BASTASA

i do not deny myself anymore
of its confidences
it is hard to strain this intimate
relationship between
this i and i,
for Thou can always sever from
me and always shall i
be left alone
devastated like a land abandoned
by the natives
because the conquerors who are
too cruel
have just arrived.
from this moment on
i promise myself
it is i
and i alone
let no one distract my
own attention
to love myself
above all
no matter what blunder
has it committed
against myself
for it is i
too who must forgive and
then always
forget