Be Yourself, Or Conform Poem by Virginia Cairns

To be or not to be
That is the Shakespearean question
Still being asked today

Should I conform to the wishes of society?
Or shall I be myself,
And stand up to the world

If I were to be me,
Would you accept me,
Or turn me away?

If I conform,
Will I lose myself,
And become a clone of culture?

If I were to open myself up
Let you go where no one has gone before,
Would you leave?

If I were to be what you wish,
Would you be happy?
Would I die inside?

My greatest fear
Is to die alone
Unwanted and unloved

But I would rather that come true
Than be loved for what I am not
For becoming what you want

The only thing left for me to do
Is to be me,
Open up the box I have hidden away

Now it is time
For a choice to be made
One only you can make

Can you accept me as I am
The real me most don't know,
Or will you reject me?

Decide my dearest,
I will not wait forever
For I have made my choice!