I Hope You Care

"I don't care what anyone thinks,"
You say, so filled with pride.
Why? Why are you proud?
I hope you care
What some of us think
Of you.
I hope you care what your parents,
Your friends, your family,
Your God, your neighbors,
And your teachers think
Of you.
I hope you care if you're kind,
If you're polite, if you're honest.
I hope you care if those who matter
Like you.
I hope you care if you're a good person or not.
I hope you care, because if you don't,
Then you are one of the rude,
The selfish, the proud, the ignorant,
And you don't even realize it.
I hope you care at least an ounce,
But no more than a pound,
Because if you care too much,
It can start to weigh you down.
I hope you care enough to know
If you're indecent or not.
I hope you care enough what others think
That you can see how you make them feel.
I hope you care what I think of you,
If only because I love you.