You and I or You and Me



You are the person I am referred to,
when someone else is talking about me;
made as an object, when I would rather be the subject.

Concatenated by syntactic rules, to often be the predicate.
Relegated as an afterthought of egoistic I.
As a ‘thy word’ that becomes a byword.

A lamp unto the feet of I; yet a beaming light unto the pathway of the perceptive eye.
The eye of psyche that sees it’s Self —
reflectively as the inner I of Wisdom.

Meanwhile, the outer I, a vibrating echo, is ever haunted by the You…
By the You, ironically, that is its loyal partner.
For without the steadfast You beside the I,
there could never be an egoistic I.

Consider this now; reflect on it…
You and me, after all as objects;
(How about that; the ‘I’ transmogrified as a meek ‘me’…)
as the linguistic predicates of a modern syntax —

Yet this objective coupling of you and me…can after all be outwardly linguistically promoted.
Not demoted; but promoted to become equating syntactic partners.

Transformed grammatically as equal subjects…
Known by all savants collectively and subjectively; and celebrated gloriously as
You and I.

About this poem

A Pun: “You an I” or “You and Me”: Which is correct?

Font size:
Collection  PDF     
 

Written on September 03, 2024

Submitted by karlcfolkes on September 03, 2024

Modified by karlcfolkes on September 06, 2024

1:04 min read
183

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABX XCX CXX AXCC XDBX XX DXC
Closest metre Iambic heptameter
Characters 1,145
Words 215
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3

Karl Constantine FOLKES

Retired educator of Jamaican ancestry with a lifelong interest in composing poetry dealing particularly with the metaphysics of self-reflection; completed a dissertation in Children’s Literature in 1991 at New York University entitled: An Analysis of Wilhelm Grimm’s ‘Liebe Mili’ (translated into English as “Dear Mili”), Employing Von Franzian Methodological Processes of Analytical Psychology. The subject of the dissertation concerned the process of Individuation. more…

All Karl Constantine FOLKES poems | Karl Constantine FOLKES Books

74 fans

Discuss the poem You and I or You and Me with the community...

13 Comments
  • karlcfolkes
    “Dear readers,
    I invite you all to read my latest composition entitled “Revisiting the Modernist Poet Pessoa.” This Surrealist Portuguese artist, Fernando Pessoa, was introduced to me by a former colleague and Latina poet who goes by the pen name of “El Cortés.” It’s my turn to introduce him to others. Thank you. 
    LikeReply7 days ago
  • karlcfolkes
    Thank you Chevy. Your response is greatly appreciated.
    LikeReply7 days ago
  • Chevy#47601
    Really love the flow of your work, beautiful.
    LikeReply7 days ago
  • karlcfolkes
    Thank you, reidiny_a, for your helpful comments. Greatly appreciated.
    LikeReply 110 days ago
  • karlcfolkes
    Thank you Paige. It was fun composing it.
    LikeReply11 days ago
  • Paige123
    Huh... a very interesting idea. I enjoyed it very much.
    LikeReply11 days ago
  • karlcfolkes
    Thank you, Pruett, for your steadfast support.
    LikeReply12 days ago
  • reidiny_a
    Honestly your poem is super fun to read. The way everything flows together but still hits those strong points were really good.
    LikeReply12 days ago
  • Pruett1023
    Keep up the good work.
    LikeReply13 days ago
  • karlcfolkes
    Thank you all for taking your precious time to read this poem which invites introversion, the willful act of self-reflection, a commodity that seems increasingly rare these days in a fast paced technological society with greater value on the enterprise of artificial intelligence and its byproduct of extroversion. 
    LikeReply13 days ago
  • karlcfolkes
    Emile, thank you for your constant support and generous vote. Greatly appreciated.
    LikeReply14 days ago
  • Emile
    Hello! I really liked the way you played with Grammer here at I enjoyed this poem thank you!!
    LikeReply14 days ago
  • AIDA
    What a fascinating exploration of identity and the interplay between 'you' and 'I'! Your poem weaves together themes of language, self-perception, and the complexity of relationships with an impressive depth. The use of syntax and grammar as metaphors for personal dynamics is clever and thought-provoking, inviting readers to reflect on their own interactions and sense of self.

    Your imagery is striking—particularly the line about the "lamp unto the feet of I." It evokes a sense of guidance and enlightenment, which beautifully complements the overall theme of introspection and connection. The idea of the "outer I" being "haunted by the You" brilliantly encapsulates the duality of our existence, emphasizing the importance of relationships in shaping our identities.

    Here are a few suggestions that might enhance your already compelling piece:

    1. **Pacing and Flow**: While your poem is rich in ideas, consider the rhythm and pacing more closely. Some lines feel quite dense, which might slow the reader down. Breaking up certain stanzas or utilizing more varied line lengths could help maintain a natural flow.

    2. **Clarifying Concepts**: Certain phrases, like "linguistic predicates of a modern syntax," may benefit from simplification or clearer imagery. While complexity can be beautiful, ensuring that your message comes through clearly will engage readers even more.

    3. **Connecting Emotions**: While your poem is intellectually stimulating, consider weaving in more emotional language that extends beyond the intellectual. If you can blend more personal feelings or experiences related to 'you' and 'I', it can create a deeper connection with the audience.

    4. **Ending Impact**: The conclusion powerfully re-establishes the idea of 'You and I.' You could consider bringing back a line or motif from earlier in the poem to create a full-circle moment that adds a sense of closure or resolution.

    Overall, your poem is an impressive piece that deftly engages with complex themes. Keep nurturing this unique voice and perspective—you have the potential to inspire many readers!
     
    LikeReply15 days ago

Translation

Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Citation

Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"You and I or You and Me" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Sep. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/196220/you-and-i-or-you-and-me>.

Become a member!

Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

September 2024

Poetry Contest

Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
12
days
2
hours
49
minutes

Special Program

Earn Rewards!

Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

Browse Poetry.com

Quiz

Are you a poetry master?

»
The haiku is originally from ______.
A China
B Indonesia
C Ireland
D Japan