Which

Which is worse,
Pomposity or
Pretentiousness.
As a professor
I am a bit of both
But I think pompous
Is less repulsive
Than pretentiousness.
The former shows
Our unconscious
Self-satisfaction with
Our paltry achievements
Whereas the latter is
A conscious version
Of the former,
I am unaware of
My pomposity but
Nurture my
Pretentiousness.
Both are regrettable
But awareness makes
Pretentiousness worse.
Better to be free of both
But humans are not so
Perfect as they see
Themselves to be.
If we could forgive
In others what we
Have ourselves,
Pomposity and
Pretentiousness,
We would be
Better company.
Which I think
Is why we like
The company
Of some over others,
Some know themselves
As we wish we could
Know ourselves.
We are hyper
Critical of our
Appearance but
Unaware of our
Pomposity and
Blind to our
Primping our
Pretentiousness.