No Shame

I stand before you now with trodden pride

And mettle frayed

With staggered will and heavy heart

I admit the errors I have made

But have no sympathy for me

Feel no pity for my shame

I wear it proudly on my chest

To show my trials all the same

For we learn to walk by falling down

We learn to run by scraping knee

We can never grow inside ourselves

Until defeat comes gracefully

May others learn from my mistakes

And may they chart a better way

Let not my efforts be in vain

Let there come a better day