11 September 2005

Who Am I?

Next weekend, I will participate in a regional Arts project through the Jefferson Nature Center, called the Marking Our Place project. I'm not completely clear on the end result, a publication, I believe, showcasing our individual group efforts. The goal is to bring ecologists and artists in Southern Oregon together through a series of guided tours and exercises. I received notification of this event only a few days ago. Many of the deadlines had passed, but I went ahead with writing an application letter, developing a creative resume, and writing a brief introduction.

The introduction is intended as a way for all the participants to get to know one another. Each introduction should share who we are, who we really are, not what we do or where we live. The following is my one-day result:

In the words of Walt Whitman, “I am multitudes.”

I am fresh air, wondering why I wind up sullied.
I am pollution, hoping for a happy ending.
I am life, being for the sake of being.
I am cycles, spinning renewal for the joy of it.

I am alienation, frustrated with the disconnect.

I am my children, questioning always.
I am my wife, seeking simply pleasure.
I am my mother, carrying my children to enlightened spaces anchored in harsh reality.
I am my father, cloistering my emotions in a wash of apathy.
I am my siblings, seeking joy in a sedentary life while craving mobility.
I am my ancestors, looking back only to locate an inherited disease.
I am Kyle Elton Stich, honoring the name my parents’ gifted me.

I am California, living in eternal rays of light.
I am Alaska, shrugging off central governing bodies.
I am Nevada, fooling the unaware.
I am Oaxaca, pretending not to have all I really need.
I am Chiapas, covering treasures with treasures.
I am Oregon, demanding we meet Earth.
I am Jefferson, standing firm for rugged individualism.
I am Rogue Valley, luring hobbits into the shire.
I am Ashland, laughing organic.

I am chimera, changing always.
I am change, refusing to stagnate.
I am contentment, sitting happily off to the side.

I am multitudes.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I loved your intro--creative, funny, wise. Good stuff, Maynard.

"Laughing organic" is brilliant.

RC

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, heartfelt, and suprising. A perfect introduction. Looking forward to seeing you again (no--i have not fallen off of the face of the earth). I will be back in Ashland soon.

Shannon

Theresa said...

Multitudinally wonderful!
I've always wanted to know more about the real you.

Anonymous said...

Maybe consider publishing the results on a webpage? You'll probably be the only one participating with cyber skills, and that way all your friends could see what you guys come up with.

RC

Kyle Stich said...

Robert — I especially like "laughing organic" as well, and it works on different levels (wink, wink).

Shannon and Theresa — Thanks for your praise. I hoped it wouldn't come out sounding too sappy.