I Must Split in Two

Reconciling with myself in an unreconcilable world

This article is a selection from The Algorithmic Bridge, an educational project about AI that’s actually about people.

I’ve loved to sing since I can remember. A few years ago I started to take it seriously enough to record myself on the phone. Always with the music rolling as a background guideline to prevent me from making the mistake of listening to my voice or letting the recorder capture my off-key verses. But always improving. One of my favorite voices to listen to and sing along to was singer and songwriter Silvio Rodriguez — my mother’s influence on my musical taste.

I don’t bring this up to let you know I’m leaving my career as a writer to pursue the Hollywood dream; I’m not that good at either but I like to think I’ve chosen the easier path. No, it’s just that one of Silvio’s songs has been coming back to me these days as I struggle to find balance between two parts of me that live in conflict. The song’s name is I must split in two. Here’s the chorus:

Let the children, the lovers of rhythm come closer

Let the intellectuals remain seated

I must split in two, I must split in two

Some say here, some say there

And I just want to say, I just…