Accept Me

Would you accept me
if you knew what was inside?
Would you accept me
with all I try to hide?

Would you accept me
with the anger and the pain?
Would you accept me
with the sadness and disdain?

Would you accept me
with all my little flaws?
Would you accept every 
awful thing you saw?

My need for control
is caging me so tight.
My need for perfection
touches everything in sight.

I long for approval
from everyone I see.
So why can't I accept
everything I see in me?

My love and acceptance
reaches out to every soul.
But loving myself
is my ultimate goal.

I see the vision 
of the person I'm meant to be.
But the journey to peace
needs to begin with me.

                                      MAL 9/26/13