I AM

I am gliding through the winter breeze like a leaf falling in the fall
I wonder how creative my ideas are
I hear that annoying sound of the air conditioner buzzing in my ear
I see people fall into the big, black hole of death
I want to live
I am gliding through the winter like a leaf falling in the fall.
I pretend that I am a superhero who can make mortals immortal,
I feel the pain and sorrow of death
I touch the long, gray hair reaching eagerly to touch my fingers
I worry that my life will be short and full of torture like my hairy brother
I cry for those who had died and for the evil that comes upon me,
I am gliding through the winter like a leaf falling in the fall.
I understand how it feels to lose and gain someone special
I say "NO!" to my hairy brother because he has done wrong,
I feel my long lost brother
I hope to be gliding in the summer wind like a leaf falling in the fall,
but
for now,
I am gliding through the winter breeze like a leaf falling in the fall.

Alejandro Acierto
June 1997

Alejandro, age 12, lost his age-sake Wiemaraner "Zak" on 8/31/1996.
This poem was written for a school assignment that dictated its title, "I Am"