Be

If you want to be resented, succeed
If you want to be mistreated, be polite
If you want to be despised, smile
If you want to be deceived,  be loyal
If you want to be rejected, accept yourself
If you want to be misunderstood, desire
If you want to die, love

But if you want to be free,
succeed, be polite, smile, be loyal, accept yourself, desire and love all you like!

Reviews

[RONGORONGO::^/JEUSSEN/F..]

I appreciate your philosophical viewpoints, but to each his own, yes? I have all of the elements you decree as fair victory to freedom, and exuded them all in a lifeless, loveless, sexless marriage for 8 years and my ex husband resented my success, mistreated me while I was always polite (until one day I wasn't so polite anymore- why should I be when anger is also a fair emotion) He never smiled at me or wiped away my tears even though he used to tell me "Keep your chin up", I was completely LOYAL to him yet he deceived me; I always have accepted myself just for who I am, the way I am, and I always desired him even though he desired other women, and men, I think. Sad...but I divorced him (and God and the church okayed it because he was literally having one girlfriend to another, and another, and another.....et al...So I moved on with my life, relocated to San Francisco, then out of California and ended up living abroad. (But I will have to disagree with your last line in the first stanza- "If you want to die, love."
I don't know about you, but love keeps me alive! Loneliness is DEaTH

[Susie]

Wow. Thank you for your transparency. I appreciate your perspective. xxx

[Wórdsmíth]

But if you want to be free,
succeed, be polite, smile, be loyal, accept yourself, desire and love all you like!

Wow... what a lovely message you sent through this beautiful poem. I love reading your work ;)

[Susie]

I'm so pleased you enjoy my style. It brings a smile to my mouth!
Friend request accepted :D

[Wórdsmíth]

Ha!! Your amazing!! xoxo ;)

[Mark]

thank-you Susie :) i'm not free yet, but i want to be

your lines have given me inspiration

[Susie]

I am so pleased. The pleasure is mine. I am far from free of concerning myself with others' opinions, too. I think it's a lifelong process and we can only improve! xoxo Thanks for reading! It means a lot.

[Ambra Celeste]

Hi Susie, I like this poem it really reflects how people can act around us which is very much dictated by how we feel and value ourselves. Well said. :)

[Susie]

Thank you for reading :)