If you hate yourself
Give your love to someone else
Ignore the temple housing your soul
And trade for something shallow.
A pocketful of coins
Won’t buy a whole lot these days
But put them in a wishing well
And wish for the rest of your days.
Sharing your emotions
Might leave you feeling free
But if you’re not too careful
Those secrets are all they’ll see
It all winds around about your soul
A marionette with strings they hold
So what do you do if you don’t think through
And learn to respect, love, and cherish yourself.
Your opening lines drew me in. If you hate yourself, you still have love to give. I found it a hopeful image.
The rest of the poem really resonated with me, a pastor, who feels like I live in a fishbowl. You’ve captured the challenges of authenticity well.