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,
Alot of secrets, about myself;
And fool myself, as I come and go,
Into thinking that noone else will know;
The kind of woman that I really am,
I don't want to dress myself in shame.

I want to go out with my head erect,
I want to deserve all mens' respect;
But here in my struggle of fame and pelf,
I want to be able to like myself;
I don't want to look at myself and know,
That I'm bluster and bluff and and empty show.

I can never hide from myself and me,
I see what others may see;
I know what others may never know,
I can never fool myself, and so...

Whatever happens, I want to be,
Self-respecting and conscience-free.