Myself

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 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 for 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.