I Alone

What secret am I

How you take little pieces

And call it the whole

And I never say a word

I know what I’ve done

What a secret am I

But not to myself

And if I pretend to be too large

Or if I fear being too small

I must laugh at your praise

Lest I betray myself

I leave on a path

I’ve thought well out

I depart, on my way

And with every exhausted breath I try to sprint faster

My ears closed to all praise

And to all criticism that doesn’t know me.

I run away

Too fast for any to reach me

And I’m on my way

I’ve departed

But not from myself

Copyright Eric Wasiolek Grinnell 1979