Who Am I?

Finding yourself again.

 

Who am I without you?

            Nothing is the same.

            Do I still have a name?

 

Who am I without you?

            There’s no sense of identity.

            Without you, am I still me?

 

Who am I without you?

            All the broken pieces of a heart

            Where the hell do I start?

 

Who am I without you?

            I’m the same person I was before.

            A little less; maybe a little more.

 

Who am I without you?

            Learning how the big boys play,

A little wiser today, than yesterday.

 

Who am I without you?

            Everything is the same.

            I still own my name.

           

           

Author's Note

I think it's easy to lose ourselves in someone else...when that someone else is no longer a part of your life...who are you then?

Reviews

[Sami Khalil]

A powerful poem on names and identities. It is so true that we can lose ourselves to others if we allow it and find it hard to regain lost territory and identity. I like to share and give for they enrich our sense of it all in a balance way instead just losing and not retaining our name and sense of identity. Mother Nature shares all things but keeps its essence which is God-given. An excellent write...:)...............

[ReedWrite]

Thank you so much, Sami!
It's hard to give of yourself, and not give it all...and sometimes I think for women this is even more the case, as we enter marriage and lose a part of our name...sometimes even a sense of identity if we don't hold fast. At least, in my generation--back in the day--this was more the case. Finding yourself again, can be a challenge...but certainly one worth undertaking. Thank you so much for taking time to read and comment. Big hug, my friend.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow. You are welcome...:)...................

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'Who Am I'
ReedWrite,
I notice this is a write where the subject and the narrater are still connected,
as in 'who am i without you' beginning each stanza. From there the process of
change and individuality is dealt with. Yes, no matter the process or time ta-
ken the aim is the person; "I still own my name." Really down to earth and
truth seeking poem.
Blessings,
Kathy

[Dave]

It's so true that love for all of it's ecstasy can be harsh. Our giving love and wishing it to be returned is so natural. All of us, I believe, have at one time or another have had our hearts broken. But like your speaker knows that we must pick up the pieces and move on.

Even at the end she realizes she still owns her name.

Take care - Dave

[ReedWrite]

Thank you for the read and review...appreciate it.

[barleygirl]

I totally agree that it's easy to become submerged in a relationship. I love all the ways you detail this floundering after the end of a relationship, so true-to-life for many. Your questioning is natural sounding & straightforward, which I like. The only drawback is that I'm not a big fan of using the exact same sentence in every stanza. Maybe a little variation would add interest.

[ReedWrite]

Thank you for reading and reviewing this piece, Barleygirl! I appreciate you input and suggestion.

[Sasquatch]

Simply Beautiful.You show such passion in your writings,it is easy to see they are written from the heart.Thank you

[ReedWrite]

Ahhhh, my sweet Sasquatch! Thank you...for taking the time and effort to read..to comment..to care.

[genocide]

so you're saying you can get so caught up in that person that you forget who you are

[ReedWrite]

Yup, pretty much. :)

[Dr. YumnaKay]

I think it's human nature to want to depend on someone.. To give in completely only to be found broken.. And it feels like a part of ourselves leave us when that person leaves us because we made them a part of us..
This is a heart-touching piece. I won't say I enjoyed reading it but it made me feel vulnerable.. You convey the dilemma beautifully..

[ReedWrite]

Thank you, Yumna. I appreciate that you took time to read and comment.

[Dr. YumnaKay]

You are welcome! ☺

[The dark story]

The transition from losing to regaining- that's what I actually liked.
"Nothing is the same.
Do I still have a name?"

" Everything is the same.
I still own my name."
This contradiction and transition seems like how you reach the light by walking through a dark tunnel.
To be honest, I don't like the fact of losing oneself, one's identity to someone else. And the reason I dislike it, because it makes me enervated and dilapidated to an extent. I actually hate it because I find myself helpless and powerless. I try to regain myself, eventually losing it again. That's the biggest flaw in me- that's what once a friend pointed out to me. That I let people take hold of me and I hurt myself in that act.
So when I read anything like losing one's identity with someone else, I actually berate myself. I was like "no, no. That's not the right thing" half-way through your poem. But I smiled when I was nearing to its end.
A brilliant,lyrical piece. Loved it. Thanks for sharing.

[ReedWrite]

Thank you so much, Atiba. I think it is human nature to give ourselves completely when we love, and for women, that is especially true. In marriage, we even give up our names. If we invest everything into that 'together' identity, it's easy to lose a piece of ourselves...which isn't to say loving to that extent is wrong. We just have to find a way to balance it all, and not lose our sense of identity. I appreciate that you took time to read and comment, and I'm glad this piece spoke to you!

[.]

A very truthful write.

The old adage about two becoming one is absolutely true. We become invested as a unit rather than as an individual. And when that unity is broken we find ourselves lost and lacking personal identity.

Your poem is very insightful and true to life. It happens everyday. In time if we seek ourselves, then we will find ourselves again.

A very nice piece of work.

[ReedWrite]

Thank you, Doodley.
I appreciate your thoughtful comment, and that you took time to read and review.

[tanmay7551]

A choice of identity lies within. At times we lose everything by giving ourselves into someone else's thoughts and actions. If there breaks anything, then its our heart in the end.

Very risky business out here...

Good write..

[ReedWrite]

Thank you, Tanmay. Appreciate your words very much.

[Jack Necron (Aubrey Jac..]

The stanzas in this are wise and simply magnificent, I love how the voice gradually becomes stronger toward the closing lines. When you've shared your life with someone for so long and then they leave, it's hard to realign the pieces left behind and regain the ones you gave; a hole remains. Thank you for sharing this truthful write.

[ReedWrite]

Thank you, Jack.
Your words are so true...it's hard to realign the pieces left behind and regain the ones you gave. Exactly. I appreciate that you took time to read and comment.