It’s a philosophical-anatomical-physiological-psychological hypothetical,

framed in a logical, logistical, gramatical proposition.

To Whit:

What I “is” ain’t what I “means.”

What I Is – is what you see coming towards you

from up the street on a summer evening…

or doing push-ups beside the pool…

a clothed or nearly naked white guy, bald, mostly,

gray hair on the sides of my head.

Wrinkly…

sagging in places I’d rather not be…

not erect, anymore, consistently,

in places I rather would be.

If you were a Doctor of Radiology and I was your patient,

you could see inside of me more of what I is inside of me…

A lumbar spine that’s a “Hot Mess!!!”

(Doc’s words!)

from too much pounding, training for too many marathons.

(03:58:16, my personal best, so far!)

A pace maker next to my heart to regulate my A-Fib….

That is what I is,

having evolved over, to date,

77 years and 2 months of living…

(and yes, I am counting…)

Happy Valentines Day, incidentally.

But!

What I mean!

Well!

That’s a whole ‘nother matter…

That takes a long time to come clear.

A getting to know me time.

To know, for instance, that I mean you no harm!

That I am safe for you to be with.

That I am a good hugger, whether in passion or companionship.

That I am a “walk-me-to-the-corner-deli” kind of neighborhood guy.

That when someone asks you, “What does “friend” mean?”

a picture of me comes to mind!

And, baring further mental deterioration

as I roll further and further down the hill,

what I mean will become surer and surer still

where-as what I is will

change and change and change………..!

So don’t take my inevitably devolving “is-ness” too seriously.

It’s only the necessary disintegration of my package

so a new one can take over the process of becoming what I mean.

And, Yes, so I can once again

help you carry in the grocery packages

without needing to sit, gasping for air,

or maybe I will cross the finish line at 03:15:26!

For “Is” is a bubble in the breeze.

But “Means”means,

Ah!

Becoming

for ever………………………….!