Talking Amongst Myselves (Poetry)

I have many conversations
the point of each one open to debate
few satisfactory conclusions
since I contradict and constantly berate
my dizzy self for spouting
the clichés that trip-tumble from my tongue
I don’t excuse them
my sober self sees fallacies
undone

Opinions split my moody selves
depending on the company I keep
and often on the time of day —
the angle of the light
plus the ever-varied quality of sleep
The happy voice out-shouts the sad
thoughts chatter to and fro quite casually
the daydream timewarp fantasy
adopts a running commentary
which (the inner-critic argues) deems me mad

I tell all those other selves to go
and seek a quiet corner of my mind
I’ve penned a notice SILENCE PLEASE!
there’s never been an off-switch I could find
I’ve had all the conversations
I can take for now — the chatroom in my head
is closed for contemplation ...

Oh, I’m sorry —
what was that I said?