I wrote this poem in 1978, a year when I had many realizations about myself. Instead of feeling inferior and ashamed of myself, I decided to adopt a tolerant, sympathetic approach to who I was. Instead of hating who I was, I made a conscious decision to love myself unconditionally. I would love myself with all my heart and live in peace and self-acceptance forever more. This was my gift to myself. With it, I sowed a seed that soon grew into a mighty tree that bore life-giving fruit, a crop I harvested, as I became what I believed.

I was beautiful just the way I was. I held my head high, then, with feeling and power, living in a state of being certain, of certitude, creating my own circumstances. Remember, if Karen can do it, you can do it too.

The Sculptor

I know a young sculptor
Who chiseled a chunk of marble,
As he carved a girl’s reflection out of it,

He gave her laurel wreaths
And hands,
As different as branches from a tree

Her left hand
A gentle lamb like a crescent moon
Her right
As eloquently strong, like a lion providing for the lamb!

The sculptor,
So artistic,
Planted seeds and harvested many a dream!

You can order my poetry collection, including this poem, here: Reflections of My Heart.

Original text ©2025 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved. Image by Paul David, of a model wearing an Alexander McQueen creation from his fall 2008 collection via Wikimedia Commons.