how vain i have become.
all day i worry,
i wonder who is reading now?
i wonder what they have said about me?

i used to scribble down poems
in a tiny leather bound book.
i alone knew of the moments they painted.

and now
and now and now

the whole world can stumble upon
my name
my words
my secret thoughts and feelings

how vain i have become,
waiting with baited breath
for someone to tell me if they approve 
or not.

i miss my little leather bound book.

sj-g

hello poetry, goodybye soul

Jun 6, 2026

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mc-haley

david-hall

Read this and a couple of your other poems.  I can totally agree with you, I used to write in a little leather bound book too. =D  I have found that I get a lot more out of my poetry now, when I write something new, I am now writing for an audience.  I edit and punctuate and put more effort into things than I might have when I was just writing for myself.

Anyways.. I just wanted to say that I am glad some of your work as made it online, I enjoyed reading it.

alex-apples

Completely empathize. Modern convention has amplified our natural vanities, I think...

paula-swanson

Human nature compells us to seek aproval.   Even as we lay our souls bare to the world,  we wait and hope that we are worthy.  

kim-keith

I'm pretty sure that all of us can appreciate this one.  I still write some that are in a notebook by my bed--and that WON'T EVER reach the light of internet.  LOL.

Seriously enjoyable.  I don't think with you that it's vanity so much as the longing for approval from your peers, for the sense of getting better at a craft that you clearly enjoy, and for those times when you connect with someone on another level.  But in my case, it's probably vanity LOL ;P

adam-b-1

What a great write. I cannot help but feel exactly the same. In fact I have avoided writing all together since joining Hello Poetry. Self-conscious perhaps? Ironic? Definitely.

Either way, good work.

Ephemeralthoughts

This poem definitely gets at the heart of personal exposure, but how should we deal with it? Should it influence the way we write now aware that we have an audience scrutinizing our every word. It's hard not to be self conscious about a writing that is self conscious. Beautiful job by the way

cry-sebastian

becky-bergstol-1

agreed. however, that feeling wears off after the initially obsession i beleive :) hang indere!

mccaslin

I don't, let them read.  Love it or hate it this place brings people of similar interest together.  And its only natural, all of seek the approval of our peers.

deanena-tierney

nothingrhymes

very true.. i just joined recently and posted what i had written earlier on my notebook.. but ever since i joined , haven't written a singe thing...

isaac-c-thornhill

robert-ross

I love this!  So simple and heartfelt.  You certainly captured the feeling here.

Darkpoetsoul

You capture the poetic heart, of the writer in us all.

alexander-lloyd-twyman

I have perfect empathy for you miss. A nicely written sentiment.

But hey, at least your vanity is being cashed in! Unlike mine, but that just tells me I have a lot to work on, or that my style is bland and uninteresting!

Keep up the good work!

patti-masterman-heterodynemind

you were very wise to hide your treasure from the swine, lol