There’s a Me

there’s a me before shame
and I don’t know him
don’t know if he plays bass
don’t know if he watches basketball

there’s a me before shame
1981-1986, got a diaper change in the trunk of a Nova,
saw the filament in the light bulb shining,
middle of the day, side of the highway, so sunny
but even an open trunk is dark, and a lightbulb’s job is to shine

there’s a me before shame
I confess i know him in glimpses
I talk to him, cause he’s in here;
The me with shame, the me with children, the me with a job,
the me who plays bass, who watches basketball.

there’s a me after shame
1986-2023, been to every state but Alaska,
asks amazing and only seemingly random questions of every person he meets,
runs through the circle of fourths when he’s trying to focus on something,
loves podcasts, hates harmonica.

there’s a me.