No esteem but selfless

It’s a crisis
When a diamond looks to dirt for affection
When a genius seeks guidance from the stupid
For the blind to lead the visionary
Perfume gazing with love and longing
At a toilet.

Once a man held his arm out to me
In his hand, a penny
A statement of my worth
For I should be so grateful
As to have a man offer any sum of trash
To collect me.

No esteem held high enough
To silence the weeping heart of a neglected child
She, we each house inside ourselves, molested
But let her cry not
For safety is in strangers with nourishing candy
To make us all feel
So very much better.