By Edgar A. Guest 1881
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 that I
readlly 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 man's respect;
But here in the struggle for fame and pelf,
I
want to be able to likemyself.
I don't want
to look at myself and know
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.
