The poem “I Am” is by poet Dedan Gills (1945–2015):
I Am
I am old and wise as the night. I am as beautiful as a bird in flight.
I am the moon and the sea. I am the robin and the bee. I am the soil and I am the tree.
I’m the lion and the gazelle. I am heaven and I am hell. I am the ring and I am the bell.
I am the joy and I am the tear. I am the brave and I am the fear.
I am the blistering desert. I’m the freezing snow.
I’m the cringing coward and the gentle hero.
I’m the aged and I am the young. I am the weak and I am the strong.
I am the smile and I am the frown. I am the pauper and I am the crown.
I am the wrong and I am the right. I am the day and I am the night.
I am now and I am never. I am yesterday and I am forever.
I am the bitter and I am the sweet. I live on the hill and I live on the street.
I am the top and I am the bottom. I am Martin, Hitler, Gandhi, and Saddam.
I am red, black, yellow, brown, and white. I love, hate, laugh, cry, and fight.
All the universe is reflected in me. I am all that ever was and ever will be.
When I lose, it’s the lesson that I win. Judging others is my sin.