I’m hunting for my birth certificate
once again
to prove that I exist.
They seem to need convincing.
Isn’t it obvious? I ask
but obviously it isn’t.
They need that slip of paper.
In fact they insist upon it.
Doubting Thomases! I think
almost inviting them to touch me.
But I hold back
almost afraid to touch myself.
What if ….?
Perhaps I’ve gone around kidding myself
all these years.
Yes, I think, that slip of paper would help.
I hunt for it furiously.
If only to convince myself.
Caravaggio's 'The Incredulity of St, Thomas' courtesy of Wikipedia
John Malone 
Yes, these days it seems you can’t use the bathroom without one. 😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lol; yes, it is getting like that; almost as important as yr driver’s license 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It my come to this …
The need for a Vaccine Passport
to even exist
To be a Pfizer Survivor
or not to be
perpetually Covid Oblivious
LikeLike
so true, David; things have come to a pretty pass indeed, as our old mate Ollie used to say 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We do need a new
Renaissance Normal
and little less of the
Caravaggio Morose
(but a perfect graphic
for your poetic post👌)
LikeLike
🙂 thanks David: yes when I wrote the phrase ‘Doubting Thomas’ I thought immediately of our old mate, Caravaggio 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Old Michaelangelo Caravaggio
would have lost his head over
your poet piece, John 😎 👍
But then, he had a bad habit
of doing this 🙃🗡️ 🕶️
LikeLike
Lol; he certainly specialized in what is it called ‘Grand Guignol’ ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha. Imagine having to prove to oneself one’s own existence. That could be a sign that’s it’s time to reconsider what’s been going on. Can feel this vibe.
Wonderful writing, John. 🙂
LikeLike
thanks Terveen; I get carried away sometimes down a rabbit hole of weirdness where the current situation seems to be leading us 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s such creative imagination, John. Wonderful are those writers who tap deep into it. Your writing always has splashes of surprise, wit, and wisdom. A deadly combination. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol ; I wish you were my tutors at Uni 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi John, I’ve lived in the most locked down city in the world for 18+ months. We are only emerging from it now … and with caution. I think every country will go through this in some fashion. 😦
Embrace the strange times, right? 😀
eden
LikeLike
totally right, Eden; as you said ‘everyone at their own pace’, referring to countries and the states within them; what city was that, Eden?
LikeLike
it just goes to show that “i think, therefore I am” isn’t quite enough. If other people begin to suggest “i’m not” even one’s thinking gets muddled on the issue. It does make one reflect on the rules we live by. The arbitrary structures which lay so much store by pieces of paper. Explaining to a child why a piece of plastic is worth more than a coin is a strange conversation. And now bit coins? Their value is beyond my understanding
LikeLiked by 2 people
these are confusing times; this was written before lockdown but it mat apply equally if we have to show our ‘covid passports’ —
LikeLiked by 1 person
hoping you find yourself, isn’t that what we all spend our lives seeking?
LikeLike
that is for sure, Beth; hopefully by now we have a pretty good idea of who we are, and come to it with some degree of acceptance 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
QED. I think, therefore I have a headache!🙂
LikeLike
Lol; our old friend, solipsism, slipping in again 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤣 That’s the one!
LikeLike
he’s determined to get his fifteen minutes of fame on the page 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed he is 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
don’t be surprised Hobbo if he pops up in another post 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Puts a new perspective to finding you’re self.
LikeLike
hahaha; it does that, Ulle 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Speaking of doubting Thomases, one evening our Sunday night, church, fellowship group studied the Bible chapter about Paul in Malta. Within twenty four hours I had a view on one of my totally unrelated blogs from someone in Malta.
I have had well over eight thousand views of my blogs. This was the only one from the tiny, island country of Malta.
Thanks Lord. I sense that you are watching over me and have blessed my participation in that fellowship, which, continues…
LikeLike
good to hear from you again 🙂 what a wonderful story; you have done well reaching so many people with your outreach of love —
LikeLike
Beautiful
LikeLike
thanks for recognizing that, Kaycee; you’re a man of few words but at least ‘beautiful’ is better than ‘nice’ 🙂
LikeLike
Hello John. I am drinking too much tonight.
“Did I do enough?
Did I love enough?
Was I kind? or was I the devil kiss?
I asked for forgiveness and the kind lady forgave me..
I told her, thank you sweet lady and I told her.
I never forgave myself,
I broke a angel heart.”
A amazing poem my friend.
LikeLike
Hello Jihn; don’t be too hard on yourself; love the passion and nostalgia in your poetry; it is good to drink a little too much from time to time then ease off fora day or ywo: I know what I’m talking about 🙂
LikeLike