there was a moment yesterday – 
 no, more than a moment, 
 a spell, really – 
 when my self
 (the one that operates alone),
 returned and loitered in the space
 over my heart
 and all through my mind:
 Tell them! Inform them! Change them!
 it insisted,
 it persisted,
 it listed
 all the reasons i am great.
 sadly,
 i listened
 and entertained it for too long,
 until,
 my self was revealed 
 through the Grace of the other.
 diminished,
 it slithered so quickly away,
 and i was reminded – 
 the space between 
 my self
 and 
 my Self
 is the most unsettling of all.