Making the Cut

Life is full of games

Who makes the cut

in this pitiless sport?

 

Is the criteria

of the shallowest sort?

 

Is the judgment of talent,

perhaps players’ resolve,

 

or unknown potential

that’s bound to evolve?

 

In this harsh competition

of unwilling contenders,

 

the rules keep changing;

we are all offenders.

 

Weary of games

where no one’s victorious,

 

just soothing the egos

of the unduly vainglorious.

 

Author's Note

Is this why "Life Coaches" have a job?

Reviews

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

Nice poem. I love couplets.

The last one is my favorite. Sometimes, being wise makes a man boastful while he treated others as fools. We are different people. We have our own talent. We have our own style. We have to respect each other. That's the real cleverness.

Nice job. Keep it up. :)

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Dhaye! You said it - a boastful man, treating others as fools - as if his is the only talent that matters.

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

You're welcome. :)

[Sami Khalil]

All I can say it is a great message and I echo your thoughts on this...:)

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you!

[Sami Khalil]

My pleasure...:)

[Marie]

I try hard to stay out of these games. Not only am I an unwilling contender, I'm a noshow contender.

[Rita L. Sev]

Wise move, Marie!

[Jack...]

Each person is their own self, with their own thoughts and their own style...which is the way it should be. We all believe we are good at something and proud of our accomplishments, and that is ok as long as we don't become arrogant and cocky about it. When we sing our own praises the sourest notes come from our mouths.

Rita, this was very good. You send great messages in your wonderful poetry.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Jack. I agree that it is fine to have some pride, but some people take it too far.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i really like the idea of "unwilling contenders"

maybe i don't want to play..maybe i just want to do my thing.

[Rita L. Sev]

That's exactly it, Jacob. Thank you!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

my thought is this...in life, no matter what the game whether a sport, academia, poetry ...don't get cocky about how good you are...there is always someone who can come along and knock your block off.

[Frieda P]

Whatcha gonna do, you can't quit right? I love vainglorious, great word....freak parade is the norm, the pretty's get the recognition. Play nice. Love this Rita!

[Rita L. Sev]

One day it's the pretties, next day it's the jocks... Freak parade is right! Thanks, Frieda!

[Frieda P]

Oh yeah, sheesh the jocks, my pleasure ;-)

[rubie]

Terrific write! Indeed, we are all players in this game called "life". And you're right..."the rules keep changing".

It's a game that's impossible to win, and so easy to lose.

It's a game where sometimes, even the best equipped people don't make the cut, and those most ill-prepared seem to succeed....

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Jill! You are so right about the ill-prepared succeeding - so frustrating!