Myself

Edgar A. 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 have 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 nobody else will ever know
the kind of a man I really am;
I don't want to dress up myself in sham.

I want to go out with my head erect,
I want to deserve all men's respect;
but here in the struggle for fame and pelf
I want to be able to like myself.
I don't want to look at myself and know that
I am 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.