Who would you like to be?
Nobody else really, only me
I would miss my friends and my family
All the things that we’ve seen
All the things that we’ve done
Living our lives and having such fun
My only wish to set me free
I would like to be the younger me
Live my life without the mistakes
Save myself trouble and many heartaches
Erase all the bad bits
That now I can see
The trouble with that is
I’d no longer be me.
PJ.
© 2023
“Who are you?” is a poignant reflection on identity and regret, exploring the universal desire to rewrite our past while acknowledging that our mistakes make us who we are. Through simple yet profound verses, the narrator contemplates being a younger version of themselves, free from life’s accumulated missteps. However, the poem concludes with the powerful realisation that erasing our past would fundamentally change who we are – “The trouble with that is I’d no longer be me”.
Peter J. Watson’s “Daftness and Other Afflictions” emerged from a deeply personal place, with poems written initially as therapy before blossoming into something more universal. Writing from Yorkshire with wit and wisdom, Watson crafts verses that speak to everyday experiences while exploring life’s profound truths. His authentic voice and relatable perspective make this collection a perfect companion for anyone who enjoys poetry that makes you both think and smile.
