“The rate at which a person can mature is directly proportional to the embarrassment he can tolerate.” ~Douglas Engelbart
Embarrassed
I talked the other day about
A word that I won’t use
“Jealousy” is not the only
Word I strove to lose
“Embarrassed” is a word that isn’t
Part of my vocab
When others try to poke their fun
I just don’t feel their jab
Embarrassment is rooted in
The fear of ridicule
The fear that others will disprove
The fear you won’t be cool
And fear is something that I don’t
Allow to guide my path
My journey cannot be diverted
By a bully’s wrath
And that’s exactly what one is
Whenever they make fun
Instead of kudos and esteem
They simply choose to shun
Belittle, bad-mouth, criticize
Diminish and deride
Discredit, downplay, minimize
With attitude so snide
The irony that hit me just
A couple years ago
Was that the true cowards were those
That always seemed to crow
About how silly I would look
When I would do my thing
How absurd my interests were
Despite the joy they’d bring
It dawned on me there was no point
In trying to appease
People who had contracted
The deadly “Fear Disease”
Those who always thought twice of
The things that they enjoyed
Because embarrassment was what
They wanted to avoid
They picked the clothes most likely to
Be thought of as “in style”
They changed their interests to those that
Were least likely to rile
They were too scared to stand apart
To stand alone, unique
They’d rather be lost in the crowd
That be considered “geek”
They were afraid and disappointed
That themselves they failed
That they let the door slam shut
By Fear and had been jailed
When I read of warriors
Who had no thought of Fear
My actions, interests and purpose
Had become very clear
No longer did Fear’s voice whisper
“What will the others think?”
Instead, my Courage screamed “Watch out!
I’m breaking out this clink!”
And it continues to bellow
Its strong and steady voice
Reassuring constantly
To help make the right choice
“Nevermind what cowards think!
The followers, the sheep!
Let them spew their ignorance
‘Cause I don’t give a *bleep*!
Let them watch from the sidelines
And snicker as I run
Towards the end zone while they stand
And get not one thing done
Laugh and mock the things I do
While they make very sure
That nothing on their end could be
Considered immature
Living to avoid the jeers
Of those who don’t deserve
Any kind of respect ‘cause
They don’t have any nerve”
Do what makes you happy and
Don’t ever be afraid
Of embarrassment because
It only makes joy fade
Recognize that those you fear
Are just as scared as you
Content to sit, banter and watch
As your Courage breaks through
~Miro
