National Adult Literacy Database

July 9, 2001

This poem comes to us from Vancouver, BC. The author, Peter Marren, is a single father of three teens. Peter was a street kid, a drug addict and an alcoholic, but he is now clean. According to his teacher, he is a fabulous student, very incisive. He may take up counselling. Peter wrote this poem while he was enrolled in a Psychology class at the Vancouver Community College.

Who Am I ?

by Peter Marren

I am spirit
Yet, embodied,
And though I am a maker of things,
I am made also.

I am a father
Yet, a child.
I am a teacher
Yet, unwise,
I lead
But too, I am a follower.

I am a healer
Though wounded,
I am full of love
And wickedness.
I am strong
Even so, afraid.
I am a close friend
And a stranger.
I am with you
Yet, alone.

I am rich and I am poor,
Overflowing, yet empty.
I am nothing;
Yet all these things, I am.
And as this is so, by grace,
I am a man - affected.