Mark On My Heart? Poem by Bryan Taplits

Selfish I was when a child and a youth-
Yes, I thought it a good thing to be-
Never to care about others well being
I thought this made me more manly and free.
But as I grew older I learned life‘s lesson:
That, in truth, no one was less worthy then me,
Moreover, I concluded, that my being alone
That's what made me less manly, less free.
Someone to care for, I concluded at last,
Would leave me more complete, more relieved,
Unfortunately, the bruise that's followed me since that day
Is this blemish: "No one shall ever worry about me."