Compete with Balance

Hey. This is a poem replica of Sonrisas. I'm sorry if it's terrible. i'm trying to improve. Comment whatever necessary.

Compete with Balance

A scale has two sides,

One cannot have balance without the other.

On one side of the scale, athleticism and strength. 

Surrounded by teams and balls, 

Water bottles filled with Gatorade, 

Smells of pretzels and pizza we know we can not have, 

Where  hard work and sacrifice of practice is shown.

Day after day, weekend after weekend, working hard to 

Succeed and to compete, to aim and to kill

Time is planned through schedules; when to eat,

To sleep, to compete. Without such plans, 

The balance is disrupted.

From girls in tight shorts and loose jerseys, 

Colors vibrant against the court floor and net.

The racket of “Mine”, pain, victory and strength float around, 

Spiking, jumping, diving, all showing agility and strength, 

Competing against one thing, together. 

There is no end, only beginning and failures. 

Strategy is planned, strength is earned. 

 

Strength can only be balanced with the opposite, intelligence. 

Another A earns a smile and higher expectations, 

Another B earns disappointment and a frown.

Paper, pencil shavings, and the occasional minty smell

Surrounding us while we study instead of play

Pitted against each other against the future unknown

intelligence is tested again and again.

Sleep must be had, food must be served, 

Without either, the brain can not grow. 

Silence only, not one sound can be made

Working together is tolerated but not the best choice, 

Working endlessly to receive something we don’t even like

Piles upon paper to receive another which

 can burn and waste away 

Again and again, so what’s the point?

We’re all competing against one thing, individually.

There is no end, only beginnings and failures. 

A plan is made, intelligence is earned. 

-- Nina Vescoso

January 2020

Author's Note

Comment whatever you think is necessary.