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The Nearly Men

I am one of the nearly men Never quite the best Not really of the crowd Not quite one of the rest. You see us in every photograph When the prizes are handed out Making up the numbers yet Never standing out, For we nearly men and dreamers Just stand back and allow The doers and the action men Their triumphal bows. We feed our children humour And tell them it’s no disgrace To amble along comfortably In the middle of the race. We don’t believe in heavens Or gods at pearly gates So we try with dignity To accept our various fates. We consume our allotted portions And when it’s time to die We face it not with a roar But with a quiet sigh. Nearly men and dreamers Never quiet never loud Trying their hardest not To mingle with the crowd.

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John Lawless

Date: 11/5/2022 5:05:00 AM

I believe that all your nearly men....are absolutely clearly men.

Terry Ireland
Date: 11/5/2022 6:42:00 AM

Thank you John.

Speaks Volumes

Date: 11/4/2022 7:00:00 PM

So many aspects of this poem Terry, You describe a composite individual. Up to ambling along comfortably in the middle of the race, you had me down to a tee. We separated on the heaven bit and joined when we accepted our fate, and continued in unison when not mingling with the crowd. I adored your poem and have always been happy to be a nearly woman. Its now a favorite

Terry Ireland
Date: 11/5/2022 1:38:00 AM

Thanks Wen - I've seen to many people crash and fall through ambition or bw unhappy about things they can't possibly change. I do actively rail against social injustice and try to help my fellows, but am s satisfied with my life.