I have to live with myself and so
I want to be fit for myself to know.
I want to be able as days go by,
always to look myself straight in the eye;
I don't want to stand with the setting sun
and hate myself for the things I have done.
I don't want to keep on a closet shelf
a lot of secrets about myself
and fool myself as I come and go
into thinking no one else will ever know
the kind of person I really am,
I don't want to dress up myself in sham.
I want to go out with my head erect
I want to deserve all men's respect;
but here in the struggle for fame and wealth
I want to be able to like myself.
I don't want to look at myself and know that
I am bluster and bluff and empty show.
I never can hide myself from me;
I see what others may never see;
I know what others may never know,
I never can fool myself and so,
whatever happens I want to be
self respecting and conscience free.
This is not the poem as it was written by the Edgar Guest. I see see two places where words were changed. Man changed to person and pelf changed to wealth. I don't know if the changes were made by this website or if they just ignorantly published an incorrect version of this poem. It is not within anyone's prerogative to change the words of an authors work. If you don't understand a word such as pelf don't assume it's wrong. Look it up and learn something.
Like this new term "humans"! Not men, women, boys girls, ladies or gentleman. Now we are all faceless humans behind our masks! It's disturbing!
Alll my classmates had to learn and recite this poem in Mrs Bronaugh's English Class.
I learned this poem back in the 1940’s, and still try to go by it’s lessons. I was in grammar school at the time. Never forgot it....
I could imagine how innocent a boy would be, being utterly moved by simple words…to make them not so simple, yet apply them to his life … and flourish!
I learn this poem in the 12 the grade in High School. It was use to build self worth in your self. I had never forgotten it.
This is one of my favorite poems. My grandmother taught it to me, and I had to recite it at talent shows and church programs. My first cousin recited it with me.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
I really wish you feminist and politically correcting a-holes would stop changing the texts of great poetry. You folks remind me of the same jerks that would want to put clothes on the statues from Michelangelo or alter the great paintings that do not depict your moral principles. The 11th line is supposed to read: The kind of man I really am, not person. Please look up the poem before you post someones altered version. Edgar A. Guest was a man, he wrote the poem about himself, not the feminist a-holes out there that want to push their BS on everyone else. If you don't agree, then please, write a poem yourself and not alter someones to support your views. Thanx