Life’s experiences afford much enlightenment,
Riches blended within early
disappointments.
Character knocked into
shape by being there,
Absorbing failures beset
with usual anticipation.
Immune to any infrequent praiseworthy
retorts,
Building upwards at a
snail’s pace of progression.
No proud unravelling of a
single graduating scroll.
Pathways of other
opportunity, led some elsewhere,
Long and hard alternative
options best suit other minds.
Mandatory ingredients are
not required to bake a cake,
Rather, success is its
acceptance and taste to the palate.
Flying high shakes the
core of touching basic connections,
Losing touch with the
ordinary, while blinded by blinkers.
One wishes to succeed
without curtailing meaningfulness,
Fortune is best calculated
by happiness and its earthiness.
©Copyright Eileen T O’Neill 26/02/2014
Poets United Mid-Week Motif: ‘Success.’….
http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/poets-united-midweek-motif-success.html
http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/poets-united-midweek-motif-success.html
i agree to progress to success without getting caught up in it and losing meaningfulness...that is best...far too many reach a point where they lose perspective when successful
ReplyDelete"Mandatory ingredients are not required to bake a cake"
ReplyDeleteUsually, it's best when your own twist has been added, making it your own personal cake/way of success...I like this poem a lot :)
I too like the snail's pace and ingenuity. I like the cake analogy too, and the return to racing with the blinders comparison. Earthiness is rich in itself, and it rounds out your poem and tone. I keep thinking, YES! but I wouldn't turn down a windfall of wealth like from a lottery--but to do that, I'd have to spend valuable time buying tickets!
ReplyDeleteOh I love those last two stellar lines: One wishes to succeed without curtailing meaningfulness, Fortune is best calculated by happiness and its earthiness.
ReplyDeleteThat's my definition of success, too, my friend - "without curtailing meaningfulness. Bravo!
I do like your last line, Eileen. I agree that success (or fortune) is best calculated by happiness. Very profound actually. I really believe you ARE right.
ReplyDeleteI love the snail's way...my mantra being step by step, taking time, and the closing lines are beautifully neat Eileen....
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of success as acceptance, and happiness to be found in the ordinary.
ReplyDeleteI really love this Eileen. And I am a firm firm believer that success should be measured by happiness. What else really matters??
ReplyDeleteSome of the best cakes are made out of luck and magic..and of course a little effort and love
ReplyDeleteEileen,
ReplyDeleteI especially love your last line
*Fortune is best calculated by happiness and its earthiness"
But loved every word you wrote.
Thank you.
Have a wonderful weekend.
xx
happiness is sooooooooo important... I like that
ReplyDeleteFortune is best calculated by
ReplyDeletehappiness and its earthiness.
Fantastic clincher, Eileen! One gets to be aware of what is required in life and pursue them with ease and at a leisurely pace to enjoy every minute of it. No headache nor heart-attacks! Great!
Hank