Poem: what are the layers of yourself?

what are the layers of your self?

how do they come together and

how do you walk their lines -

how do you want to compose yourself - what is your composure?

how will you expose yourself in the

light of other people? overexposed and

underexposed pictures can be beautiful,

but what exposure really looks like you?

how will you make your way through

this landscape? what are your

reference points? what is their

color and shape and

how will you recognize

them in a windstorm or a crazy day?

what are the boundaries

and restrictions -

are they a beautiful border

or are they edges that

need to be rubbed

up against, and made

pliable again.

where are your park

benches and is there

easy access for ha

ndicapped days or is it

better that you carry

your rope and climbing

shoes?

and how will you

compose yourself—how

will you be composed?

how do all your

layers and lines

and reference points

and departures

from the usual

and elegant daily routines

overlap to make

your self-portrait?

- - - - -

caitlin vollmer