The Death of Who I'm Not

Dearly Beloved,

We gather here today to mourn

The passing of our friend

And though I know your hearts are torn

At his untimely end,

It seems to me, appropriate

We gather to allot

Some time now to commemorate

The death of who I’m not.

And on this sad occasion

Why, the task given to me —

Despite my reservations

I must give my eulogy.

Before we say farewell to me

And lay me in my plot

We recognize, respectfully

The death of who I’m not.

I’m not my reputation

And I’m not my don’ts and do’s

I’m not my situation

And I’m not my peer reviews

I’m not the plaudits people give

I’m not the lies some say

I’m not the ‘postcard’ life I live

I’m not my resume.

I’m not the fear of missing out

I’m not the clothes I wear

I’m not the assets that I tout

I’m not the me I share

I’m not the twisted story line

Assigned to me by foes

I’m not the things I say are mine

I’m not the way I pose.

I’m not the cash in my account

I’m not my dream career

I’m not the stories I recount

I’m not what I appear

I’m not my likes on Instagram

I’m not my abs of steel

I really am just who I am

And who I am is real.

The socially constructed me

We lay to rest today

It woefully obstructed me

From living anyway.

Survived by me, the part of me

That actually is true

And begging just to be set free

And live his life anew.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

We offer up our prayer

I’m sorry but we really must

Entrust me to God’s care

Though tearful we, determinedly

Resolve to stop the rot

We celebrate the end of me —

The death of who I’m not.