I am Legion

Brady Bowen 1973 (Louisiana)



There is darkness in me slithering
coiling into circly-shapes and shining
inky black and sapphires glinting
like the oiled mechanisms of war machines
eager and resplendent with chromed fangs that drip the venom of dissolution.

Among my insides is a lightness
not soft but bright with acceptance
and the glowing embers of love
that is ready to flash into flame
an inferno of protection-flowers
that welcomes the hurt of everyperson.

Hidden in the heart of the mountainous me
is fear like lemon-lightning blazing
the sunflowers of flight
there is not much to it now
what more can I be shown?


Crouched and wound like a spirit-spring
is the brutish wild thing of ambition
the killing thing; the cold predation of men
joyless as it poises on the lip of my spirit
watching mute and maudlin for blood-jewels

Lying languidly in the grass of imagination
is that prettiest of seraphs, a ribbon-winged,
silver-haired seductress of the mind
Creativity, we name her; but she is goddess
over this place, she is the midwife of the mind.

Sitting on a low stool in the corner of strife
is the battered, crushknuckled brawling one
retired, put away, forlorn and forgotten
his days numbered from the first breath of
new spring, when steps counted overjoyed.

Swinging among these limbs of cognition
is the base and common one; called WANT
Spoken sharply always; driven by animus
to complete tasks high and low
his feeling lasts a tick and tock, and gone.

Standing armored like steel beetles
is the defender of the faithful and less
multitudes of gouged-in eyes searching
finding the gemstone-hearts of those
who require a defender of no reknown.

Crushing hope with her heart-hammer
is my mistress of propaganda
you cannot, must not, will not should not
do the thing that enlivens us
please, as she swings again, let us sleep.

These are the secret stars, the show-friends
with hands scrabbling for the tiller of ME
what star will be their guide? What argent
blazer seen through the sextant of want?
I am no solitudinous thing. I am Legion.

About this poem

Self-reflection during a time when my self-concept was being put in a box by a partner who simply needed a villain until it momentarily turned me into an *actual* villain.

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Written on February 22, 2022

Submitted by BradyB999 on March 10, 2022

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:58 min read
145

Quick analysis:

Scheme AAAXB CXDXXB EAXXX ABXXF BXGCG XBBDX BHCXX FXAXB XXXCX XEXHB
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 2,067
Words 393
Stanzas 10
Stanza Lengths 5, 6, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5

Discuss the poem I am Legion with the community...

3 Comments
  • Mark.S
    The thoughtfulness of this poem is brilliant... well done
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • Dougla$Irishman
    Legion has many meanings, which one are you ?
    LikeReply2 years ago
    • BradyB999
      well, I’m not thousands of Roman soldiers, sooo……it describes the many facets of myself…or anyone.
      LikeReply2 years ago
  • Symmetry58
    From one man to another - this is brilliant. I hope you have, and will have, more like this to explore. Thank you for the great read.
    LikeReply2 years ago

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"I am Legion" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/122287/i-am-legion>.

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