if not me, then who?

if not me, then who?
to whom can I apply the constructive criticism lends with such vigor?
such harsh reality?
such honesty?

if not me, then who?
who I can knock down when they likely don’t need it?
who can I repair when they have recently coated themselves
thick with paint?

if not me, then who?
who would show me their inner workings with such mudthick, molasses-like
clarity?
I can’t penetrate cement.
I can’t isolate a pin in the pin cushion, no doubt a genuine flaw in someone else

if not me, then who?