Two days before the deadline.
Fingers flying frantically,
Condensing a lifetime’s achievement
In 500 words or less.
Eyes are bloodshot from the long night, spent
Staring and scanning every line, every blip
With the careful precision of a surgeon.
Secretly beautifying my faults
Like an embalmer, decorating wounds,
To make even a dead body presentable.
All to impress anonymous judges
Who are endowed with the authority
To confirm my life’s worth.
Judges who grade lives—
Out of a pool of million—
Superficial enough to be condensed
In 500 words or less.
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