atone

never having been popular
fear of being unlikable
makes me a pushover
eats me up inside
had I more pride
perhaps I would
stand up for myself
to atone for one
failure of character
and so doing
perhaps eliminate the other
but the risk so great
and my history teaches me
that I am dispensable
to some I find indispensable 
for them I can be
the fiercest advocate
for them. for everyone
but me