RELUCTANT EXPLORATION

Am I "me" because it was me
that determined
the "me" I wanted to be?
Or am I "me" because of what
others did to me?
Am I "me" because of all the genes given to me
by generations of ancestors who preceeded me?

Why am I "me"?
And who is "me"?

If finding out the real "me"
means having a gun pointed at me
and told its that stranger or me,
or that lady or me,
or that kid or me,
or it means hanging off a mountain
with a dead companion below me
and another one above me
and my hand dead with frost bite
and no prospect of anyone rescuing me
for another 12 hours,
or will I jump into the sea
and save that dog?
then I'd rather be
full of uncertainty
and leave the exploration of me
to someone else other than to me.