Amongst a pool of people,
You were the only one chosen to be you,
This means you should also choose to be you, or else you lose.
To be yourself should you never refuse, you don’t have any excuse.
For those who do themselves this good are a few.
You can try to be in someone else’s shoe,
But that which was made for you will very well suit you,
And no one else if even if they wear it
Another can be in your stead but none can bear your head.
There is nothing like another you, neither is there a spare you.
If only you don’t ruin other people, be yourself in full even if you are misunderstood
No one is ‘youer’ than you are
To find your replica, someone will have to search too far
Futile is what he would realize his search has been
For in this world and even on the moon, there are no duplicated beings.
Like you exactly, is there no one else
Fine, you can try to be a diamond when you are meant to be a pearl
Wiser would you have been if you be yourself.
Stars give light but brighter would you shine if you be that pearl
Spare thee thineself that hell
Try not to impress others by dressing your soul to appear like another man
Being some(thing)one else makes you a lesser version of yourself.
Do you know the ache you could put your head through by being fake?
Ask them that lampoon or they who for fear sake
Suppress the self they possess even at noon when the world looks.
Why not have this rule; ‘To my God will I be faithful and to myself will I be true’
I think you know from the ongoing flow that to all others you should also be you
You can’t be blue when you are meant to be a red pen
Why? You write a story of your life as you live which must be different.
It must not be just like that of your parents, friend or role-model.
The world would better respect you and of help would you be to it if you be yourself.
Have the nerves to be yourself cos to be that which makes you yourself you, you need no stress.
I gaze at them that work hard to be photocopies in despair and go mad,
You can’t replace anyone and none can take your place.
Even if your name is the same as that of another man, your face will make you.
The whole universe has only one you, which is you.
You can evolve and improve, but let that revolve around your persona
You can’t really love anyone if you don’t start loving yourself.
Be sure not to adhere to the lure of the many who live in a shadow of who they are.
This is no news but I guess you won’t argue that it is not the truth
Please the world needs you to be YOU; don’t move away from that which makes you unique.
Bismark Seth Opoku
University of Ghana
Legon
