"I," says the poem arrogantly
"'I am a cloud
I am a tree
I am acity
I am the sea
I am a golden mystery.'"

A poem is written
by somesomeone
Someone like you
or some-one like me.

Who blows his nose
Who breaksshoelaces
Who hates and loves
Who loses gloves
Who eats and weeps
Who laughs, andsleeps.

An ordinary he or she
Extraordinary as you or me

Whose memories
rootdeep as trees,

Whose feelings choke
Like a city smoke.

Whose fears and joys
inwaves rebound
like an ocean tidal sound,

Who daily solves a mystery:
each hour isnew,
what will it be?

"I," says the poem matter-of-factually
"'I am a cloud
I ama tree
I am a city
I am the sea
I am a golden mystery.

'But,' adds the poemsilently,
'I cannot speak until you come,
reader, come, come with me.'"

Quotedsegments from "'I,' Says the Poem" by Eve Merriam