Cafe Lament

Self portrait

What was it made this place so great

in the days so long gone now

For me it was competition

that kept the sweat upon my brow

 

Some would like to make you believe

that a blazing competition

Is something you should all avoid

as if the fires were perdition

 

We do ourselves a disservice

claiming competition is greed

By leveling the playing field

why would we struggle, stress or bleed

 

Without the trying forge of pain

that angst and toil bring to our lives

There just is no reason to work

on all the wonders that it drives

 

Competition is what rules life

both in nature and creation

It is what made this country great

sowing seeds of our foundation

 

I for one think we are poorer

having lost the edge to excel

Whereby what we once called heaven

has become our personal hell

 

Don’t wonder where your friends have gone

it’s just they miss the old cafe

A refuge from life’s petty fights

where they could kindly spend their day

 

$12.50

$12.50

Author's Note

I once asked little Drake Cooper how his soccer team was doing."Terrible" He said."I go to Montisory for gifted students.laughs Yea he said the problem is we aren't allowed to say anything to the guys who won't play hard. For fear they will develop syndromes". Sad isn't it we cannot ask excellence of our children or demand it of ourselves for fear it might cause issues. The truth is excellence is hard work and those who are willing to undertake it reap its benefits. 1 part inspiration 99 parts perspiration. As a horseman competition was the lifeblood of my life. It is such a shame that we once were so engaged in the job of excellence that we actually kissed the moon. Nowadays we are content it would seem to leave our children to the mercy of the mean streets. Corporate America has no mercy for those who fall behind. Neither does nature. We were once the preeminent writing site. That because we demanded excellence from each other. I for one do not believe finishing 3rd is winning. We do our children a real disservice by awarding them trophies for participation. It is for those who struggle sweat and persevere to be honored for their accomplishments and write their name on the wall of human achievement. What will we do in the future? Will we continue to look back to the days when we went to the moon with no more than a slide rule? Or will we build on those accomplishments by sacrificing for the future generations in the hope they too will kindle the flame of human curiosity to slip the surly bonds of earth put out their hand and touch the face of God?

Reviews

[David Lewis Paget]

Never a truer word spoken, Tate. So very noticeable in schools these days that the competitive nature has been deliberately blunted so that under achievers won't feel a sense of failure. Unfortunately, as against that view, the world out there is a marketplace where everyone jostles for success and recognition, and if you're not prepared for it, then fail you will. They're doing our kids a disservice by neutralising their competitive spirit.

[Michael G. Smith]

When I come here it is to discover great poetry to inspire me. I sift through many poems that for me are not powerful, inspiring or spark any emotions. I know that everyone is at a different station in their writing progression, regardless I want to read great poetry. I know that I can always find here Tate.

[Pete Langley]

I`m not sure we can talk about competition in relation to poetry, Tate....I`d rather talk about comparison, - and through comparison, improvement. There`s nowhere quite like the Café. It gives us all a chance to look at our stuff in comparison with our contemporaries. I think there is a problem when the word competition is used, because it induces the wrong sort of motivation - of elitism, of "I am better than him." The right sort of motivation, is to engage our desire to improve creatively and technically by comparison with our peers. Just my thoughts. P.

[Coyote Poetry]

It is not a competition. I found many new writers and a lot of writers come back with new names. People like to see their names in light. I write for pleasure and for friendship. I request help and I appreciate the help. If you desire no comments. Don't use the option. Us old timers need hard skin and look for the good in another. Your life was good and I like when you allow the stories from your past to come out. All we can do is our best. Some folks need to complain. Don't pay attention to the naysayers. Great writers will hear many negative words. The great writer need to appreciate the positive words and not allow the cry babies words to effect them .
Coyote

[A Soap Mess Stories]

Well said Tate. We should learn to grow as writers. We all could leave room for improvement. Thanks for the inspiration.

[ron]

I agree compitition was a driving force that made this country great. If we do not reward the best for their ability to excle than why should any one try to be the best that you can be. At least the Military still rewards for exceling in difrent fields. The Infentry has Expert Infentry badge, the Cavalry has the spur ride. I was in the Cav and passed the Spur ride. I was then Knighted a Knight of the Spurs...so technicaly I am a Knight in the truest fassion. And that my dear friend no one can ever take from me.

[Sheila Kline]

As one who writes, and writes, and writes, and then edits, and edits, and edits, and formats, and formats, and formats - meaning a great amount of time expended for very little recognition, I am surely not interested in the competition end of it. I am lucky to get two or three reviews per write, but I continue to write, so that tells you where I stand in the competition forum. I write because I enjoy it, I enter an occasional contest for the fun of it, and I do try to be supportive of my fellow writers. As far as the Cafe, it has changed as I see a lot of "finger pointing" that I did not see before when I had a lot more reviews. The air seems heavier here, the people far too serious, and oh well............what can I say? I love the Cafe and don't intend to leave by choice!
Your write gives us cause to stop and think about why we write, and how each of us views competition. I find no fault in it - I just choose to walk a path that is good for me, and my writing interests. Competition has always been good for the spirit - but, I believe it should be regarded not as a "damaging" form of creation. Let's build up one another!!!

[SteveB]

Leaving aside for the moment whether or not this could apply to recent silliness in the WC, this is a damn fine write. It can be a take on contemporary American political culture or the social culture of building self-esteem by giving awards for merely showing up. For me at least competition, even if only with oneself, is about striving to improve. In seeing the excellence of others we are pushed to excel ourselves, or at least strive for excellence.

Well crafted and well penned. Thanks for sharing.

[lee von cleef]

My whole life has been competition,who likes mediocrity ?well, adequate will have to do. A new group will grow maybe their Wine will be sweet , But I liked the smokey 'ol cafe....