Throughout most of my life
I have self-imposed strife
like a cold suicidal knife
my bogeyman - Self-Centered Fear.
Always severe, I ask why does he appear
year after year with a different spear?
Although I could veer to a new frontier
maybe it is he, whom I revere?
With creative lies
he endlessly defies
which I should despise
but one may surmise
all this time, my being he electrifies.
Surprise, surprise:
One of three,
he is me!

Jeffrey Schmitz 12/10/19