A Different Man

“He’s taking it all in,” my father said 

as I lay on a beach running sand through my hands

eyes wider than the sun

“What’s the capital of Canada?” they asked

so I guessed at Toronto

and got it wrong 

“He should know, he practically lives there,” Robert said

and I wondered why I didn’t

mind wandering like a song

“Look after your mother and sister,” my father said

but I wondered who’d look after me

heart searching for a sign

“He’s always been his own man,” my mother said

when I found meaning outside her control

spirit guiding me 

“You’re not going to be an actor,” my mother said

as I left for Canada 

and returned a different man

“You’re really corporate,” the consultant said 

when I pleaded for purpose

for something greater than myself

“Your writing displays real talent,” the tutor said 

and I beamed with pride 

at finding myself here all the time 


N.B. This poetry depicts key moments in the author's own INFP Inner Journey, starting from his childhood in Britain with family in Canada up until his thirties after he enrolled in a Creative Writing degree in London.