Just a man

with hopes and fears.

I make mistakes,

I laugh, I love.

I rise above my baser self,

I sink to levels of despair,

for I am but a man.

 

Just a man

in purple robes

preaching the word of God.

They listen to me

but I am not Him.

For I am but a man.

 

Just a man.

I lead my country.

Elected by the people,

I do what I think is right.

I can not please them all.

I am lonely and tired.

For I am but a man.

 

Just a man.

Scaling the corporate ladder.

Climbing to the very top

I make decisions.

Some good for business,

some good for people.

All stressful for me.

For I am but a man.

 

Just a man.

I teach, I heal, I help, I do.

To ease their load

people share their troubles with me.

I too have problems,

I too need help.

For I am but a man.

 

Just a man.

A Union Leader.

I represent skilled workers.

I speak for them.

Sometimes they would not know me

but this is how I serve them.

For I am but a man

 

Just a man.

I work for wages.

I do not seek power.

My mortgage and my family fill my life.

Perhaps I’ll win the lottery.

I yearn for the easy life.

For I am but a man.

 

Just a man.

Art is my life.

I create “mirrors”

for society to view themselves.

Some think the images distorted.

Perhaps they are right.

For I am but a man.

 

Just a man.

The world has overwhelmed me.

I seek escape in drink or drugs.

I have no job.

I have no family.

I have no future.

I have no hope, past the next fix.

Soon I’ll be borne away

on the wings of my despair.

But to what and where I do not know,

For I am but a man.

 

Just a man

driven by hate and fear –

to do what I know is wrong

but I can not help myself.

Even in moments of brutality

pangs of sorrow

pierce by consciousness.

I hate myself.

How sad that is.

For I am but a man.

 

Just a man

with hopes and fears.

I make mistakes.

I laugh, I love.

I rise above my baser self,

I sink to levels of despair.

For I am but a man.

 
 

David Garlick, Victoria, 1990