The Promises of Pride
In my old room,
thinking my old thoughts
that were young once.
When I drowned in the flood
of future possibilities,
and knew I couldn't drink of them all,
but by God I'd throw back all that I could.
And I had more time,
and confidence,
and energy;
fewer failures to dampen my ambitious pride.
And to be sure, there was a pearl of goodness there,
a seed of iron-willed endurance
stoked by the fires of a starving ego.
I knew I was probably intrinsically less intelligent than many -
but I was a dog biting down on a bone.
They'd have to prove it!
What do I regret? Not much ... though I worry.
For I always wished to be cautious with my promises.
But oh how it stings, making easy pledges at the zenith of one's strength,
only to find oneself too weak to keep them.
29 June 2023
Copyright © J. I. Thomas F. | Year Posted 2023
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