Poetry is Embarrassing

Sometimes my writing embarrasses me
It's maudlin, soppy, and a bit sad
I'm ashamed of it a little
Which is funny because I'm not usually ashamed of anything
Not even the shittiest things I've done
Make me cringe like reading an old poem I've written does
Was I really that emotional? Were my thoughts that dramatic?
But I am coming to accept
That I was, and they were
and it's okay
There's nothing wrong with feeling strongly
I am beginning to let my emotions have their path, and it doesn't hurt anyone else much
Do other people have more serious problems than I do? Is writing self-indulgent?
They do, and it is
and it's okay.
I'll know it's the right way when I read this in a year or two
and flinch from how I feel now.