I Am Hard On My Self Because Of You Poem by James McLain

I am hard on myself, for your presence lingers,
The weight of your judgment, my heart still remembers.
In your eyes, I sought approval and grace,
Yet I found only doubt, in my every embrace.

With each flaw magnified, I strive for perfection,
Your expectations, a relentless affliction.
But within this struggle, a truth starts to bloom,
The fault lies not in me, but in your own gloom.

For I am more than your standards allow,
A spirit unyielding, finding strength in the now.
In self-love's embrace, I'll break free from your view,
No longer defined by what you think I should do.