The poetic city: “The Winner – 11/1/15”

The Winner    –   11/1/15

A small, perfectly proportioned 

twelve year old passes me by  

as he runs along the path circling the park. 

Running all by himself 

with such ease and focused intensity, 

I have no doubt that success in life  

will be his. Short of random elements 

that might intrude, he is bound to be a winner 

As he leaves me in his wake, 

I pause to consider how much more 

I could have accomplished 

had I such clarity of purpose 

and will to succeed when I was his age.

I imagine all the possibilities that passed me by 

over the course of my seventy years… 

All mine for the taking had I been someone 

other than myself. 

And I wonder, would I chance losing 

the thrill I take in the flight of the egret 

or the dance of light across the surface of the pond,

if offered the choice of a second life

to pursue success with the single mindedness 

of the young runner.

Then, as I continue my walk,  

I conclude with perfect clarity  

that such a bet would be

hardly worth the risk.