I Chose To Like My Own Life Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

I chose to like my own life.
It wasn't easy then to do it.
Since many then pretended,
With no identifiable dignity.
Or a pride that had reality.

I chose to live my life right.
Free of masquerades,
And...
Those days I spent charading.
With dim light to pass.

I chose to greet the morning Sun.
Feeling a freedom at last.
Like never before I felt could be done.
I opened the door inside of me once closed.
And released my own mind...
To find a truth I could believe,
See and daily breathe.
And wanting more of 'me' exposed.

And I chose to like my own life.
Not finding fault or wrong with it.
Or defending what for me felt right.
What for me I knew existed.

I chose to like my own life to live,
As I do...
To prove,
It is mine to live it as I choose.

And this day I choose to live my life!
And so peaceful do I sleep at night.
Free of masquerades,
And...
Those days I spent charading,
Behind an assortment of masks.
With no direction on my path,
Cemented and paved.

I chose to like my own life.
It wasn't easy then.
Since many then pretended.
As if that was their task.

And pretending for me,
Has ended.
As clear as unstained glass,
Allows light to pass through it brighter...
With no intention to leave a blemish.
Coming as it does,
To radiate that which lives.

And this day I choose to live my life!
For me...and you too.
To get those deeds we need to do,
Done.
Knowing now we have identified,
And overcomed the fear...
Of liking one another like we like ourselves.