The Letter I

For those who disagree with my use of the first person, singular nominative case personal pronoun...

The Letter I
Does it really signify
ME?

Do you feel I use it too...
Regularly?

Can I really be
Without it there to see?

Must I really absent myself
For your mental health
From referring self-nominatively?

I am the person from whom this thought comes
I am the one whose experience this sentence sums
Who am I when I am not ME?

Must I speak for others exclusively?
Or may I speak only for you, unobtrusively?
Is there any way from I, I can be free?

Barely a sentence, in truth can be said
Without that letter appearing in my head

To deny it is not selfless, so much as self defying
It feels less honest, and much more like lying

How can ONE pretend
One doesn't speak to one's own end?

I won't do it!
I'm here and I won't recuse it!

I'm an advocate for my own agency
The feet I stand on are not made from clay

I have a life -which gives me background
You ask I step aside, but I stand my ground

Meet me at high noon, in the center of town
I will be there, I won't let You down

I write my I proudly, would you rather it was "i?"
It's not speaking for you (said with a sigh)

Author's Note

To anyone who was ever discouraged from referring to themselves in their writing. Be proud! Say your I LOUD!!

Reviews

[Nusquam Esse]

Haha, excellent job on this one! It is a topic I have encountered much, not just in writing, but in speaking. To the Japanese, Americans often seem self-absorbed because of how much we use 'I'. This is because the Japanese usually only use forms of 'I' whenever it is not inherently implied. If you are speaking, it is assumed that you are talking about yourself, unless you are clearly directing a question to someone. It is one of the important aspects of learning how to speak the language naturally, understanding when saying 'I' is unneeded information. Unfortunately it sometimes effects my English, and I end up saying stupid sentences like "like cheese."

[Robert Tusitala O'Neill]

I am always confused when people expressly ask me not to refer to myself in my writing. It is almost as if I could just choose not to be the entity that is experiencing my life for a little while and somehow pretend to experience my world as a generic being of some sort. I can't imagine what that might be like! Being a very specific being it seems to be more self-centered to me to assume that when I speak I am somehow not speaking from the point of view of just one unique corner of the cosmos that I have experienced and understand. How hubris it would be if I assumed I could speak from a point of view that was not my own!! When people criticize me for speaking or writing with too much use of the self reflective "I," all I think is that to deny where the ideas I am generating come from is to commit a far worse sin than to clearly source my information. For example, when I quote someone else, I credit THEM! When I am putting forth original information, I credit myself -thereby allowing others to know this is just MY theory and not a well established fact! I wish more people understood this as you do! Japanese seems to have it right, in my opinion! It should not even be necessary to say "I" in most sentences! You are obviously the person having the thought!

[Pinkyleeamy]

This was an extremely fun poem to read! "I" Loved it!

[Robert Tusitala O'Neill]

Thank you, PinkyLeeAmy!! I appreciate it!! (Notice my proud use of "I" there!)

[Pinkyleeamy]

"I" did notice! hahaha

[Robert Tusitala O'Neill]

There is a strange thing I have heard from some amateur writers that some teacher somewhere told them to avoid the use of the letter "I" in their writing, and it always seemed ridiculous to me. All the really professional writers I know think that is a joke and never would trivialize their writing by trying to deliberately avoid referring to themselves -as though admitting you exist is some kind of mistake or weakness in what you write! I think it is ridiculous.

[Pinkyleeamy]

I do too. It's ridiculous tat I face that problem every single time I submit a college essay! My response is always the same.... Well I wrote it and roll my eyes! lol

[Robert Tusitala O'Neill]

Good for you! The honest fact is that only by admitting YOU are saying something in a college paper can you be truly humble and admit this is ONLY your opinion! Otherwise who wrote it for you? Is it plagiarized?! You have to give your sources and when you say the letter I, you are giving the one piece of information you can say with complete certainty where it came from. You are being the most honest you can be!