No Contest



Too many fired up rushing to compete,
In various competitions.
As a way to seek,
Attention or approval that proves...
Their mediocrity is better to beat,
The best of others.
Who have done most of their lives,
Doing what they do to make look easy.

Only a limited of the very few,
Would with conscious enter into...
A competition,
Just to prove what it is they can do.
To know and not to prove this to anyone.
Or...
Be baited into a contest.
With a comparing to others,
Their skills, talents and abilities.
For the purpose and reason,
To be scrutinized under a microscope.
Until their capabilities,
Are either plagiarized or stolen.
By those who would then criticize.
Or lie about their creations.
To have innovated,
As an original to have pioneered.
This is fact. Not fiction.

Too long have those been given credit.
For their fraud and thieving ways.
To receive honor, respect...
And confetti throwing parades.
With a doing to applaud and cheer,
The faking of elaborate masquerades.

But no contest will the ones enter,
To prove their best...
Is not only rare and unique.
Since this to do,
And throughout history...
Will have many refuse and reject.
Or respect their contributions.
Because those who originate,
What has not been done by others yet.
To compare.
Is often ignored and considered to be,
Worthless and nothing more...
Than a back to turn upon to be ignored.

Until...
Someone from nowhere,
With cash in hand and know...
The meaning of value.
To put a price on it.
With this to do to have others,
Complain or say...
They could better.
If only they had known,
When, where and how...
To replicate as close as possible,
With this done to do to add...
At least or replace,
The spokes of a rolling wheel.
That will smoothen a ride,
Of a covered wagon.
On exhibit in a museum for decades.

'Is that an analogy, an apology...?
What is that?'

'And...
This creative innovation of yours,
Would then do what and for who?'

'I would get attention.
And my competitors would be few.'

'Well said.
And made clearly understood.
Now...
This is the year 2022.
Agree?'

'Of course, I agree.
What kind of question is that?'

'Tell me...
What are your concerns,
What are they really about?
Could it be,
Diversity?
The ethnicity of today's competitors?
And not one or two.
I assure you,
Many of these folks are briiliant.
Or...
The change of times,
Moving much too fast for you?
Which is it?
You can confide in me.
It was in elementary school.
When I began to realize,
There were so many colors...
In one crayon box.
And one crayon had no color at all.
And my teacher said to me,
White is a color as well.
That's why it is in the box with others.'

'I'm just saying.
I'm not a racist or anything like that.
I just want my ancestors,
To be proud of my efforts to endeavor.'

'And...
Your ancestors?
Could they possibly be...
Deceased.
You know...
Gone to the great beyond?'

'Of course.
What kind of foolish question is that?'

'But...
You want dead people.
Long to have moved on.
Proud of your efforts to endeavor.
In the Here and Now?'

'Yes.'

'And...
You accuse me of being foolish.
To not think,
Your idea of updating the wheels,
On a covered wagon displayed...
In a museum in the year 2022.
Is an everyday common occurrence?'

'I don't understand.
What are you trying to say?'

'It doesn't matter.
Do you pray?'

'Do I what?'

'Nevermind.
I don't want to imagine,
All the work God has to do.
Alone.
With no contest to compete in.
Or competitors.
Rushing to prove...
They can do much better,
Than God has already done.
Even what's going on now,
Would be improved with mediocrity!'

'Uh...
Are you okay?
Should I call a doctor?
Do you want me to say something,
To the receptionist?
Are you sure you are alright?
You suddenly sitting in that chair,
Staring out the window.
Doesn't leave me feeling good at all.
What's on your mind?'

'My ancestors.
And wondering where they are.'

'Well...
You are much older than me.
And no disrespect.
But...
My guess would be,
They have moved on.
To the great beyond.'







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Submitted by lpahtillah on January 17, 2022

Modified on March 05, 2023

4:34 min read
8

Quick analysis:

Scheme abcxadxe ffgfgHidjgxjgkbxxg lxmnob picfembxxqehx xqrfsdtpuvwxxxxgn ex Yxf gf xxvoe ex exxeedffaHxfsexkdxze1 d 2 xdP ydexr3 Xx lw4 pv yxxxxox xt pt l 5 gfuxdxpgve xtp2 xxqrz5 dx 1 emle4 3
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 4,005
Words 905
Stanzas 23
Stanza Lengths 8, 18, 6, 13, 17, 2, 3, 2, 5, 2, 22, 4, 6, 2, 5, 7, 2, 2, 1, 11, 10, 2, 7

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    "No Contest" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/117873/no-contest>.

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