The Sweet Scent of Failure

THE SWEET SCENT OF FAILURE

I will speak in praise of failure
Long unrecognised: its worth
But with loss I won’t regale ya
Of its grieving there’s no dearth

For the striving and the yearning
That sweet savour of success
Counts for nothing in our earning
With no challenge and duress

It would be of no avail 
All that travail and the vying
With no chance that you could fail
You would triumph without trying

He who walks upon the sea
With no fear of inundation
May surrender to ennui
When he’s performed one more flotation

Picture living out a dream
Goals accomplished - end of track!
Always on the winning team?
You’d tie one arm behind your back!

It’s the chances of defeat
That give each day that added zing
Hold back on that job complete!
If you’ve no new flight to take wing

So next time you take the field
Think: “It’s a game! To lose - no sin”
Then with honour, brace to yield!
              
And give my side a chance to win
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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Wolf Avatar
July 8, 2021 at 5:18 PM
Love the message, and the humorous ending too, Geoffrey. Cheers, Gershon
Dietrich Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 1:25 PM
the last line was SO COOL. Great job here, Geoffrey.
Radice Avatar
June 15, 2021 at 12:44 PM
Many home truths here Geoffrey. There's certainly no creativity without failure. ..and you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. :) It's how you deal with failure that's important. There's great cadence and rhyme in your poem. I enjoyed the read.
Brewer Avatar
June 17, 2021 at 12:10 PM
Many thanks for your detailed and thoughtful feedback, Gary.
Theraven Avatar
June 11, 2021 at 12:39 PM
Geoffrey, There's a lesson to be gleaned from your stanzas. And I thank you for the reminder. Sweet juice never savored without encountering a few sour apples. -Richard
Theraven Avatar
June 27, 2021 at 11:10 AM
A Sunday musing here, a second look more carefully. -R
Brewer Avatar
June 12, 2021 at 7:51 PM
Thank you, Richard, my friend. Enjoy the sweet and the sour sweep-stake, and have some success.
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