My Declaration Of Independence Poem by Danny Speicher

To all who keep by my side
And to all who have done so before
To all who will be with me tomorrow
And to all who know me no more
I have spent so many years
Trying so hard to be
Someone that people would love
I have forgotten to be me
So often I would compare myself
To a friend or an acquaintance or a star
Thinking of ways to be like them
And wondering how they are the way they are
So many people want me to be one way
While all the rest want me to be another
They lure me in with promises of love
And shared fellowship with one another
'If you were just a bit more like this'
They say with so much hope
'You would do wonders'
So, in belief, I grasp for their rope
But, each new time a hint comes my way
I realize that it didn't achieve the wanted goal
Only to find after I've changed my ways for them
I've just dug myself deeper into my own hole
It's been so long since I've been true to myself
I don't know what my heart wants anymore
I've been told so many times I'm one way or another
And that I should change or disaster was in store
'You're too nice', 'You're too generous'
'You're too romantic' and 'You're too shy'
'Don't get so attached to those you love'
And, 'Don't let everyone else see you cry'
Well, what's so wrong with being nice?
And, what's so wrong with giving my best?
Why can't I tell someone how beautiful they are?
And, what's wrong with being a little more silent than the rest?
Before you can answer with your usual replies
Before your cynicism runs free
Let me tell you it doesn't matter
Because I am myself... And, that is all I will ever be

((October 10th,2001))