It’s what I want
One name by which to live
Poet or chief
Novelist or journalist
I just want one
To cover it all
Philosopher’s esoteric
But gathers my soul
Writer is right
But specific it’s not
From the clothes I choose
To money making method
All could be clear
If I only just knew
What is my name
I’d love to tell you
Roman it is
Roamin’ I oft be
But a true name I have not
Unless flaneur works coo
Wander I do
But not all I am
So still searching I’ll be
Until I release the notion of narrative clarity
Stochastic a life
Can it be good
A dice roll or phone call
Separating one day from the next
Though must I write a story
Overlord of all
A commitment to choices
Before my preference might fall
So how does one will
Anything to be
When one doesn’t know
Who the fuck is me
Am I absurd
Don Juan or Sophocles
Or perhaps a boulder pusher
Or Nauseous Sartrian
To capture the essence
Of a life that’s now gone
May certainly be easier
Than just a few decades in
So how do you do
You narrators fierce
With clarity you sail
Your tackings do pierce
For all it’s one thing
Your horizonal goal
To be who you are
In ten words or less
From there I feel far
A jumble of stuff
How can I choose me
When I don’t know what’s cruft
So shiver me timbers
A pirate I’m not
Must I try all x’s
To get closer the spot
Maybe that’s it
To be I must be
Each name on the list
Until I find me
Is there another way
The list is so long
And only so many years
Stretch before the snap
Can one just choose
From all that I know
What name is mine
And then to bestow
Roman the Poet
Dr. Ryan the Prof
RJR the Advisor
Roman J. the Leader
Bricolage it all
Nothing is new
So what will I make
With my one precious stew
Strategy Poet
That has a ring
Board member of verse
Advisor word string
When you don’t know what to do
I’ll string you some lines
Calculate where to go
From feelings vines
Read one more time
While heartbeat I watch
Quicker the pace
Onward your splotch
It’s one way to go
Maybe I’ll try
Have a go where I am
Then wherever I scry
Roman Ryan 