I Am A Coward Poem by John Yaws

The truth, the dreadful truth, you see-
Is what we tell ourselves-
Destroying all our vanity-
To place it on a shelf.
To see ourselves, just as we are-
A gift? a curse? who knows?
Honesty with self goes far-
Like fragrance with a rose.
While one may never turn and run
Or decline from a fight-
True courage is to dare to do
The thing one knows is right.
To, self abase, if it will stand
Good in another's stead.
And letting others go before-
When we would get ahead.
I fear to face the man I shave
Facade and web of lies-
In truth I see a coward there
When looking in his eyes.
Afraid to fight? ah, foolish one-
I fear to walk away.
For fear that one will see the fact
I'm cursed with feet of clay.
Afraid to speak my piece, you think?
I bow my head and weep-
That I don't have the fortitude
At times my piece to keep!
While others think, that they perceive
Nobility and such-
I fear I see hypocrisy-
And fear it very much.
While others look, and they suppose
That I am quite the man-
I know that I've a failure been
Since first that I began.
A craven? Ah, the dreadful shame
Much rather one would die.
Of all the cowards I have known
The worst by far, is I.