Who Can See

In my world, I am everywhere
I am the star of the show
No matter how far behind the scenes
Here I am
Watch me

In my mind, I am all I see
But behind my eyes, I am facing the world
And every reflection, without exception
Is only that
Not me

In your eyes, I am visible
In your heart, I am invincible
No matter how much I see
You're the only one
That sees me

Here I am
Have me.

PUBLICATION: Scribblings, Fall (December) 2000, SUNY College at Fredonia.

HISTORY: This is one of two poems that appeared in the self-proclaimed "Propaganda Issue" of Scribblings, a one-issue-per-semester campus lit mag. I wrote it while taking a break at my then-recently-acquired job at WENY-TV, the Elmira/Horseheads ABC affiliate for whom I was now a photographer/editor. I wrote it in consideration of the concept that one cannot 100-percent see what they look like in person (from the visual perspective of other people), even by looking into a mirror. I later (over the internet) sent the poem to my girlfriend Cindy, who submitted it to the lit mag. Despite my having already graduated from SUNY Fredonia the previous semester, the magazine published it that Fall, no doubt because I used my "R.J. Sadbac" alias.