I Am

Before the body, before the story,
 before the name
 Beyond the mind's attempt to find
 or explain
 Before the breath, beyond the sense
 of pleasure or of pain
 And after death, and after death, I am
 Within the heart, the whole and part
 of everything I see
 Behind the eyes, beyond disguise, reflecting me
 At the silent core, and yet before phenomena began
 And after it, and after it, I am
 Many differences separate us
 on the surface, yes.
 But I cannot find a boundary in consciousness
 And when you ask me,
 where does awareness begin
 and does it end
 I have to say, I have to say
 I've always been
 Within the body, without the body,
 not subject to
 Changing moods or states of health
 or points of view
 Without needs before the deeds
 and the monuments of man
 And after them, and after them, I am
 Many differences separate us
 on the surface, yes.
 But I cannot find a boundary
 in consciousness
 And when you ask me,
 where does awareness begin
 and does it end
 I have to say, I have to say
 I've always been
 At the silent core,
 and yet before phenomena began
 And after it, and after it, I am