A Coach's guide to success!

You know it makes perfect sense...

Come hither, come hence, 

ye mentors and coaches fine

to hear my tale, 

philosophically sanguine

for if you have ambition, 

the ladder of success to climb

then it is in your interest my request, 

not to decline!

A most eminent scholar, 

once did opine

show me the boy, 

between seven years and nine

and I’ll show you the man, 

his party line

begin as you mean to go on, 

the inferred incline!

Now it is incumbent upon you, 

to take the time

and teach your underlings, 

never be supine

fight like a lion, 

that peerless feline

and if convinced, like a star, 

for you they will shine!

But before embarking on a voyage, 

destined to be divine

beware the perils of fame 

and gluttonous swine

who proffer much money, 

if for their club you'll sign 

for a wolf in sheep's clothing, 

is a loathsome lupine!

Keep your love for the game, 

wholesome and genuine

then no player under your wing, 

will have reason to whine

high moral integrity, 

gives none cause to repine

so keep these ideals in mind 

and your career will mature, like rare vintage wine!

Author's Note

Play for the love of the game, not the huge financial gains that often are associated with the trapping of success and counsel those likewise, should they ever fall under your tutelage!

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

Yes, a good player needs to love his sport, no doubt about it. Today's professional players have these astronomical salaries and demand more and more each year else they switch teams. Coaches of elementary and high school sports should definitely instill a love of the game in their players. I enjoyed the rhyming in this one, Tom. A little different from the usual for you. Lydi**

[Tom]

Yes indeed Lydia, as always you've grasped my poems raisin d'être and thank you for your always welcome visit!

[Lydia Shutter]

My pleasure.

[MsJewel]

I love the intricate rhyme pattern in this one. It gives the poem a great flow. I've never been a huge sports fan of any kind, however, I am a fan of good poetry and yours is outstanding.


:) Julie

[Tom]

Thank you so much Ms Jewel for the wonderful compliment and welcome visit!

[Matching Socks]

Oh I like this! I've been both player and coach over the years.
If they are 5 & 6 years olds they will find reason to whine regardless...
: )

[Tom]

Yes that's true Ance, but stick to your principals nevertheless and they should fall into line...& thank you for commenting!

[Matching Socks]

My pleasure and good advice. :$

[Sami Khalil]

"Come hither, come hence,
ye mentors and coaches fine
to hear my tale,
philosophically sanguine
for if you have ambition,
the ladder of success to climb"

[Tom]

Yes indeed Sami, we must learn to walk before we can run......

[Sami Khalil]

Wow. So true...You are welcome...:).....

[Robbie~xoxo~]

You said it all!!...Good for you!

What happened to the true love of sport?...it seems to be all about personal gain these days.
You have expressed this topic in such a magnetic way!
Your Rhyme flows to perfection!

Well done, Tom!~xoxo~:)

[Tom]

That is indeed the gist of it Robbie and thank you for your appropriate analysis !

[Aethereal]

It seems to me that you have succeeded at writing a rhyming free verse poem whereby each rhyme word is only used once in a logical way although forced somewhat, but not forced too much. Your next step, if you decide to do so, would be to do the same using the same meter on each line all throughout your poem. It’s possible to write an entire poem using meter but no rhyme at all, thus giving your poem a sing-song rhythm without rhyme, but I haven’t seen many poems such as this on Writers café. Your poem inspired me to write this gift poem for you to keep as your own: Do with it as you please:

Games of Joy

If you are the real McCoy,
it’s not money you enjoy.
You must play each game for joy,
games that money can‘t destroy.

Games ahoy!
Games ahoy!
From New York to Illinois.

[Tom]

Thank you Aethereal for your constructive critique and fine poem !

[Aethereal]

In some ways, writing a poem is a game. Now add perfect meter to the game, then try to cross he finish line. Keep trying to do the impossible if you wish to grow.

[Yellow Butterfly]

You have definitely engineered your love of Cricket to perfection in all your writes with your poetic words Tom... you've definately scored a 6+ A Star with this beauty....

Loved this one Tom....

[Tom]

Thank you YB for your praiseworthy review and so nice to see you here again !!

[Yellow Butterfly]

Your very welcome and it's good to see your still around too :)

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

You maintained that one rhyme from top to bottom, Tom. Excellent! I love the message of this piece. When you really love the game, you will play it with honesty. Cheating is possible because there's lot of money involved in every game today.
Thanks for the share. I think you should compile these pieces into one book since they're under the same theme/subject. Keep it up, Tom.

[Tom]

I hope your not hinting that I'm a very one dimensional writer Daise/Dhaye ???? lol

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

LOL. You are. Only few can maintain such perfect rhyming in a poem. You are like Aethereal whom I'm really grateful because nowadays she's constantly checking my works and it really helps a lot.

[00000000000000000000000..]

Tom this was very well wrote:) You always have a way with words:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[Tom]

Very kind of you to say so Jonathan !

[0000000000000000000000000000]

Well its the truth Tom:)

[Sami Khalil]

You are impressive in the fields of sport and poetry and above all coaching and mentoring. Excellent my friend...:)................

[Tom]

Thank you indeed Sami !

[Sami Khalil]

My pleasure. Any time...:)..........