Who Are You? Poem by Mark Heathcote

'Who are you? '
'Who are you? ' 'Who are you? '
In answer - all you can do is grin and smile,
Breathe deeply and reply the same back again.
Who are you?
Who are you to question a lamb amongst its fold?
Who are you to bark and persecute my mind and soul?
Who are you to magnify my plight?
Who are you to say I'm welcome to water
Who are you to say I'm welcome to eat or drink
Who are you to say I'm welcome to feed myself
And live my life relatively free.
Who are you?
It's a question often asked.
A blunt inference is placed on looks
The sound of my voice its regional tone,
Knives are sharpened and gunpowder is
Kept dry to fire a conciliatory bullet
in a declaration of war, brotherhood or love.
We are cordoned off to face the devil
Someone with all the power
To ask who are you?
'Can you breathe underwater? '
Are you an impostor?
'How-is-you-going to flower prosper'
Don't you know I'm your lord, your master?
Don't you know I'm your father?
And before you take another step further
Answer this who are you?
And why should I care if you even be?
And why should I care if you even live or die?
Swim or surf another wave or learn to fly
why should I care if you grin or smile
or walk another country mile.
Because I know who I am
Because I know who I am
Up from my diaphragm
Down to the last ounce the last milligram
I am who I am.