I Shall Not Run Away From Myself Poem by RIC BASTASA

To tell you the truth
i keep on writing to make myself live

if i stop, i die, and if i die
no one lives for me

for i am alone by myself
in all these

i do not die neither to i wish
to have it myself
done, for that would be
cowardice at its most

one who loves oneself does no
lose oneself
for what choice do i have?
except to live and show the
courage that i still know how

you may be happy now in
another lover's arms
what choice do i have?
no one bears all my regrets for
me except myself

i am brave, brave as a thousand
lonely men who know how to fight
and not run

away from myself.