So What's Your Voice, He Asked? (revised)

So What’s My Voice, He Asked?

So what is my voice, asked the scholarly-looking gentleman
Who approached me in the wings of my mind?
Who is this speaking to me, said I to myself,
And what does he want from me?
My voice, sir, is gentle and kind.
Not always, said he; now his lips formed a line
Suggesting he knew something more on my mind.
I remember you hostile; I have observed you when blunt.
Where is the Mr. Nice Guy you find in your hunt?
Now my hackles erect, my defenses alert.
This guy has got inside knowledge; he sees through my shirt.
Well voice, sir, is what we put on,
Like one’s suit in the morning when one’s shades are drawn.
Not right, said the man, now shaking his head;
You know better! Come back from the dead.
One’s voice is one’s being, one’s spirit set free.
This guy had insight into who I am as Me!
Tell me, said I; do not be a smart ass.
Tell me what surely must come to pass!
Now that’s it, said he, a beginning at least;
Now you should further explore self as beast.
You diminish yourself when you put on your voice
Like someone’s hand-me-downs when there is no choice.
You are not who you think, you are much, much, much more;
Then he made his way around to the door.
It would be easy, said I, if you would share your insight.
In my life you could shed some much-needed light.
Think not more highly of me since I know you as me;
I too have struggled with life issues like thee.
Just remember my challenge: choose life over death.
Hold tight to that challenge until your last breath.
Then he left, abruptly, out the doors of my mind,
Leaving me shaken, no words could I find.
Yet grateful I felt that this man had endured
To share truth in my life which had become so inured.

(Episode #2: A while later:)
Oh sir, please sir, come over this way.
Remember we talked just the other day?
It is you, my young lad, of course I recall!
You reacted to my assertions as if I had pinned thee to the wall.
I contended your voice was a trash heap of slime,
Far be it from me to be much more sublime!
Now wait you just there, said I in a huff;
I’ve had just enough again of your rough stuff!
I thought we could talk like the mortals we be
With a tad bit more of civility.
You have not changed, said the man, not put off your rags.
You want only to bore me with your tongue wags.
When you are ready to tackle the subject of voice,
I will be glad to converse with thee, it is your choice.
Then again he departed as he had done before
Out the nearest most convenient door.

(Episode #3: Still later:)
Dear sir, pray tell,
May I again refresh at your well?
Your words of truth so clear and clean
I am ready now for understanding to glean.
So you think you are ready?
Well, young man, hold steady.
Kind sir, said I, please first let me try.
I have rejected the power of truth before
Only to witness your exiting the nearest door.
For now let me say I wish to do better
I will try again now to accept truth’s letter.
My hand-me-down voice has robbed me of power
Though now I will talk truth this very hour.
I have been angry at life though I know not what for
Anger though was too overt to ignore.
Yet now I wonder whether it is sufficient to say
My spirit’s renewed and my voice here to stay?
Young man, said He, you are closer than ever
To recapturing your power and voice in one fetter;
Now direct your anger though its source is unclear
Toward intentional good - That is the way you should steer.
You have come a long way in little over a day
To reclaiming your voice which is here to stay.
Just beware not to accept the voice of others
When you are lazy and want to stay under the covers.
Now take I my leave to depart
And leave you my love which comes from my heart.

So that ends my encounter with this gentle man
Who visits each hurting soul as often as he can;
The cost for his help in each life is free,
Perhaps you will believe and he can help thee.