The first poem of my month avoiding use of the word I in my poems…

A word
a letter
used so often
as to verge on parody
or meaninglessness
seemingly indispensable
to description of self
and explanation of one’s thoughts
but potentially an indication
of selfishness
self-centeredness
or narcissism
when rendered in lower case
a sign of artistic temperament
or self-deprecation

My resolve
to avoid excessive use
of this one-letter word
is firm
but it also reveals
a tendency to focus inward
at the expense of engagement
with the world around me

Now pens down—
you’ve got living to do!

(1 September 2017)