Andrea Dietrich Poet Verse

Notes About The Poem

June 25, 2026 for Edward Ibeh's This Or That, Vol 39 Poetry Contest

The Race for Hollow Gold

(a combo of free verse and rhyme, so I'm calling it verse)

The race for all humanity is on.
On your mark,
    Ready
             Set
                    GO
Make a dash for Saks
   Then realize their prices
              you can’t afford.
Many of the runners 
     are way too slow.
How can everyone keep up?
    Pocketbooks too
      are running low.
What to do? What to do?
Will you accumulate enough
      to make it through?

How glittery the gold:
  the bracelets, the chains, 
          the fancy rings and other things.
We rush through life.
     We run and run and run
          trying to obtain all we can
                   beneath God’s golden sun.

The bills are coming in:
   electric, water, gas,
     the mortgage and insurances.
         Taxes overdue.
Make a sprint to the nearest mint.
Discover this: is the gold even there?
    This race is so unfair!
Yes, the race is hard, but do you still
  want the facade of great prestige?
Then find the hollow gold.
   It still can look big and bold
 stamped authentic gold 
    from ten to eighteen K.
Only you will know the emptiness
                inside.
   Don’t let others see what you’re about.
Just be sure not to wear it out.

Life is closing in on you.
    The race is winding down.
 What have you got to show for it?
Are your spouse and children happy?
Did you make some people smile?
Were you kind to those in the race
left far    behind?
   The golden gates of heaven
                       await.
That’s a gold you surely need
    and where there is no greed.

Before the race even had its start,
                were you smart?
   Did you drop out?
And if you’re still halfway through,
    S        L        O         W          
                down.
    Stop the mundane madness.
Possessions you can’t forever 
                     hold.
And the only gold that matters is
     that of a heart of gold.

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Valsa George July 15, 2026 at 8:37 PM Back with Congratulations on your great win dear Andrea.

Krishnanand Guptar July 14, 2026 at 9:01 AM Congratulations, dear poetess on your high win in this contest with a lovely poem flowing fluidly on the futility of the craze for hollow gold and instead search for the golgen gate of heaven. This is the real truth that one realizes when the hair turns grey as one cannot feed on gold when the stomatch can`t digest, nor carry it in the grave when one departs. ... Wishing you a blessed day.

Sara Kendrick July 13, 2026 at 5:14 PM Congratulations on your winning work. Way to go. Thank you for sharing your work with us. Sara K.

Edward Ibeh July 13, 2026 at 6:56 AM Such a wonderful poem with a great message, Andrea. Heartiest congratulations on your win in my contest. Andrea Dietrich July 13, 2026 at 5:37 PM Thank you, Edward

Nette Onclaud June 30, 2026 at 9:07 AM andie, you knocked me off my socks...i liked your two kinds of gold, very intuitive :)

Ravindra K Kapoor June 28, 2026 at 2:32 AM Great poem with a meaningful message dear friend Andrea ending with powerful lines, " Stop the mundane madness. Possessions you can’t forever hold. And the only gold that matters is that of a heart of gold." Goes as my fav too. With best wishes always.....Ravindra k Kapoor Andrea Dietrich June 28, 2026 at 3:41 PM Thanks. Long time no see

sara Etgen-Baker June 27, 2026 at 4:03 PM the 'dash' for SAKS was clever -- and the madness you accurately describe...liked the ending.

David Crandall June 27, 2026 at 3:51 PM Very nice and true message - and skillful use of language to convey that rat race feeling.

CayCay Godwin June 25, 2026 at 8:19 PM This is one of those reads that has me trapped in a stare at the screen and I know my eyes are shinning, my mouth an O. This is magic, depth and truth minus trite, authentic feel from an otherness pen seems to have spoken through your hand. A FAV which is, apparently, actually a FAVE, trying to remember that

Christine Watts June 25, 2026 at 6:09 PM Hi Andrea Well said and yes the heart of gold is the only gold that counts Cheers Chris

Paige Hind June 25, 2026 at 3:56 PM I love this ending.. great!!

Bj Legros Kelley June 25, 2026 at 3:43 PM Oh, this is good Andrea. A perfect write of wisdom!

Sotto Poet June 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM You have written a really emotional and lovely poem, Andrea. It's a true source of motivation for those who believe. ( The golden gates of heaven await. That’s a gold you surely need, and where there is no greed ). Reading these words brought me delight, IN MY FAVE. Andrea Dietrich June 25, 2026 at 2:21 PM Thanks so much, Sotto. This poem came out of nowhere for me!

Valsa George June 25, 2026 at 7:01 AM You have concluded the poem with a priceless epigram. Worth lies not in hollow gold, but in a heart of gold. Excellent thought dear Andrea Andrea Dietrich June 25, 2026 at 2:21 PM Thanks, Valsa

Alison A Smith nee Howarth June 25, 2026 at 3:35 AM Love this. The race to have it all. When really a true and kind heart is worth more than all those material things. Andrea Dietrich June 25, 2026 at 2:22 PM Thanks, Alison

Victor Buhagiar June 25, 2026 at 2:08 AM Perfect ending for your poem. Peronally I don't care much for gold. Andrea Dietrich June 25, 2026 at 2:23 PM Thanks, Victor

Moon Harp June 24, 2026 at 11:12 PM This is a really cool poem, Andrea. Of course the moral of the story is here, thus the last two lines. But I also like the clever line "Make a sprint to the nearest mint." Well done. Moon Harp Andrea Dietrich June 25, 2026 at 2:23 PM I tried to get in a few quips like that. Glad you noticed that one