THE UBIQUITOUS AND INIQUITOUS 'I'

  The problems of the world
  began
  with the first appearance
and assertion
of the 'I'.

I want
and I take what I want
'we', 'you' and 'they'
  don't have a place
in my domain
(and how I adore my own face!)

and I will say again
I will not cease to want
I have to be satisfied
all else must give away
and be set aside

you must love me
none else is good enough
see, can't you see
I'm of the best stuff
the others are just dross and fluff?
(I am refined, the crowd is ****** and rough)

ego
the most ubiquitous
the most iniquitous word
narcissistic
odious
obnoxious
deleterious
beyond description
bombastic
it makes everyone else sick

no wonder the world
is hell
and there is no sight
of any redemption

please find me a person
who wears a badge--
' I am one
who is you and they
for we all belong
to the human race
please accept me as a friend
each of us is the same
though we wear a different face'