Robert Okaji

Self-Portrait as Bowel Movement

In hospitals, my status increases
with absence, colors every
passing day's queries: have
you had a BM, they ask.
And often. This is of course
no mystery. I am Legion. I
contain multitudes, am arbiter
and symbol and vessel of messages
of good faith and lost hope, offering
myself for the common good,
selflessly, never pretending to be
what I am not. You look forward
to my visits, miss me when I'm
gone, wonder when I'll return.
Admit it: you love me.

Write with us. Learn with us. Publish with us.
Join a growing community of poets & readers.
Early access to calls, workshops, and updates.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
No spam. No ads. No data-selling. Unsubscribe anytime.
MEMBERSHIP PORTAL    |    FAQ   |    SUBMIT
2025 ONLY INK, Inc. All rights reserved.
ONLY POEMS®️ and associated marks are trademarks of ONLY INK, Inc. All individual works are copyrighted by their respective authors. All poems, essays, and artworks published on this site remain the intellectual property of their creators and may not be reproduced without explicit permission. The views expressed in published works are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ONLY INK, Inc., its editors, or affiliated entities. While many works draw on lived experience, they may contain fictionalized elements; no reference to any real person is intended or should be inferred. ONLY POEMS is an ad-free, independent, reader-supported publication.