By D. R. DiFrancesco
If only you could hear my thoughts
The aspirations I have for you
The love I feel for you
Would you be surprised
I have always been an idealist
For myself and those I cherish
Only yearning for the best for you
Taking pride in your little accomplishments
Offering up praise when you interrogate yourself
Anxiety and self-doubt were carefully sheltered from view
Constantly scratching and clawing,
Tearing up your insides in an attempt to escape
You kept them so well hidden
Your inner child cried for approval
I could not help but answer
I’ve always been susceptible to your tears
Drawing you close
Imbibing your insecurities
Reassuring your soul that you are worthy
This is not who you are
Looking in the mirror
You don’t see what I see
You are beautiful
You are unique
You are you
*Image from confident1.com
Dom DiFrancesco 
Love the term ‘imbibing your insecurities’ – a unique turn of phrase is always a gift.
Thank you very much. :)
I could really relate to this as I have had this dialogue with my inner child like your poem, and also I have spoken to loved ones struggling with that same insecurity. This is really a delight to read, because of its emotional honesty.
Thank you for your nice comment and I’m glad that you enjoyed the poem. This topic is very personal one, so its nice to know that other people have similar experiences.