Taking My Place

To the man who shouted at me One morning on my way to the gym: ‘I’d like to be like you!” You want to be like me. You want to be me. To take me just like that. You want to just go up to a superstore And buy me right out like a commodity. Very good. You want to take my place! To just replace me The way seasons replace themselves. You want to have it all. All of it. The things I have; The things I do; The things I have achieved, My desires, my dreams. You would like to be in my shoes, Look here are my shoes. I’ve taken them off for you So you can wear them. Take wear and see If they fit you well Like Cinderella’s shoes, Make sure they fit well And make sure they Don’t pinch you at all. Here is my car drive it. My house, you can have that too. Live in it, sleep on my bed And see if you can survive The grim nightmares. See here is my hat Wear it and see if it fits If it does, check if your head Can carry the things That go on in my mind. You like my dress? Fine. Here have it, But I hope you get comfortable With my odour. Or were you thinking I have none? O yes, unlike you I do have odour Underneath some parts of me. The real reason people Wear deodorants and perfumes; It is what dogs sniff at when they meet you. My odour isn’t unpleasant though Because I take my time to bathe very well. So you can have my dress too. You like to go to the places I go You are sure you can cope With the coldness of those places? You like my friends too You can have them Together with the wines and women. But be ready to pay the price And carry many hang-over. You think you know me Enough to take my place, To enjoy all the things I’ve gained, It is fine, just take, Alongside all my bliss. And pains. You really want to take my place? Always remember that Like my fathers of old, very great men, I was only a memory just like you.