Don't try To Tell Me That

Don’t talk to me about

about that.

that instinct

that painting

that record

that deed

that sentiment

that person

*

don’t try to tell me that

*

that

it’s a blue moon

it’s one of a kind

they only made one

no one does that anymore

doesn’t exist in today’s world

I am unique

*

Because?

Because.

*

Because

I met the other me

the day my father died

And again

when he signed the certificate

that proved he was dead

*

He sat across the desk from me

My mother and brother

were there as well

but they hardly matter in this telling

*

The other me had opened the door

to the funeral home the day before

and led me downstairs to see

my father on a gurney

*

I did not know

his face was cold rubber

until I touched it

while the other me stood back

watching

*

As he certified my father’s death

he bent over

like me

tilted the paper on the desk

like me

he wrote

like me

and he looked

exactly

like me

*

so don’t try to tell me that

I’m unique

because I’m not

There’s another me out there

in the world

*

and if that’s the case

that there really is another me

out there in the world

and I assure you that there is

because I met him

twice

and on the day of the funeral

except I had to stay clear of him

It was too confusing for people

*

Then that means that

there is another you

and another everyone else

*

Because it can’t just be me

Can it?

Right?

Because that would be too cruel

somehow

*

There’s probably another fucking Mona Lisa somewhere, too