Myself
by Edgar Albert 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 no one else will ever know
the kind of person 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 wealth
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.
Did you like this one?
Please write some comments below.
-Shawn
Thats the way to leave.
I love this poem – I memorized it when I was younger, but I have not recited it for some time now. I LOVE all of Edgar A Guest’s poems – they are so insightful and thought provoking.
Thanks for sharing this poem today!
Me too, Matt! I have this hand-written in a spiral notebook from my high school days! So great to see it again, this is a poem for all ages!
Yeah, Edgar Guest is incredibly awesome. 😊
i love this poem, it indeed an inspiration to someone who dont or want to know themselves.
Love this poem. It’s the way to strive to be. How inspirational!
It is really a gr8 poem..
Thanks for sharing it with us..
it is wonderful yar keep posting.
I’m about to cry bcs that poem is just beautiful and inspiring.
I love this poem so much that I wrote it out and have it on my fridge so I can see it every day!!!
Good idea, Laura. We should all do that.
I really love most of the Poems that you post Shawn. I loved this one more. I felt like doing the same thing that Laura has done.
Thanks for all the effort you put in for all this.
BR
Beverley L
You’re welcome, Beverley. Thanks for chiming in.
This writeup has made me to rediscover myself and also given me insight about the things i should know in life.thanks very much.
thank you help me doing my project!
How did I help?
COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
I really love this poem. I have been copying this over and over again.
Glad to hear it, Rose. Where do you keep it? Do you paste it up on your wall, fridge, or mirror? 🙂