MYSELF

~~Edgar Guest

I HAVE TO LIVE WITH MYSELF AND SO, I WANT TO BE FIT FOR

MYSELF TO KNOW;

I WANT TO BE ABLE AS DAYS GO BY, ALWAYS TO LOOK MYSELF STRAIGHT IN THE EYE;

I DON'T WANT TO STAND WITH THE SETTING SUN AND HATE MYSELF FOR THE THINGS I'VE DONE.

I DON'T WANT TO KEEP ON A CLOSET SHELF A LOT OF SECRETS ABOUT MYSELF, AND FOOL MYSELF AS I COME

AND GO INTO THINKING THAT NOBODY ELSE WILL KNOW THE KIND OF MAN I REALLY AM;

I DON'T WANT TO DRESS MYSELF UP IN SHAM.

I WANT TO GO OUT WITH MY HEAD ERECT, I WANT TO DESERVE ALL MEN'S RESPECT,

BUT HERE IN THIS STRUGGLE FOR FAME AND PELF, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO LIKE MYSELF.

I DON'T WANT TO THINK AS I COME AND GO THAT I'M BLUSTER AND BLUFF AND EMPTY SHOW.

I NEVER CAN HIDE MYSELF FROM ME, I SEE WHAT OTHERS MAY NEVER SEE, I KNOW WHAT OTHERS MAY NEVER KNOW,

I NEVER CAN FOOL MYSELF ~ AND SO, WHATEVER HAPPENS, I WANT TO BE SELF-RESPECTING AND CONSCIENCE FREE.

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I heard a school teacher read this poem to a group of us from Curryville Baptist Church

one year at Christmas time...where we had sang Christmas carols to those in a Calhoun Nursing Home...I was impressed by the poem, and googled it and could then read it whenever I wanted to. ~ (Jean)...aka ...(Owita) online

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