Success
How do we measure success?
How do we define success?
What does it mean to be full of success?
To fill up, to brim up
to over flow the success cup.
Is it by
our beautiful spouse,
fancy car,
big house?
Is it running real fast, real far
or discovering a star?
Is it measured by
certificates,
licenses,
titles,
awards,
recognitions,
or degrees?
by how many bushes or trees,
we plant,
by how many "yes I cans,"
as opposed to "no I can’ts,”
or, maybe, how many pairs of pants
we hem
or how many crème
brûlées we can eat in an hour
pies we devour
weddings we shower
or sweets we sour?
Is it measured by
the pennies in our bank
fuel in our tank
or people we thank
by stock portfolios,
dividend returns,
or investment properties
capturing the breeze
for energy
making the best ham and cheese
faithful prayers on our knees
how many arguments we appease
or, just, by the pain we ease?
Is it recorded by
scores we achieve,
grades we get,
or exams we pass,
how long we can last
in a staring contest?
Is it marked by
how many extra lives we get in Super Mario,
how many lawns we moe,
or bubbles we blow,
or how gangster we are with the bitches we hoe,
the secrets we keep,
observing silence when people sleep,
taking a life leap,
or expletives we bleep
in front in little kids?
Is it measured by
how many hardships we've overcome,
how many burdens we've carried,
or how many people we've helped?
Is it measured by
how many mouths we feed,
backs we cloth
or bodies we shelter
how many babies we help deliver
or how many hands we hold
when someone is suffering?
Is it scaled by
how many smiles
we inspire
during a day,
how many people we inspire
to inspire
themselves
how many books we have upon our shelves
how many depths we delve
into our soul
or how many tears of joy we create
how many gardens we cultivate
how much land we irrigate
or how much food is on our plate
is success getting to a second date
or not becoming irate
when Fate
has other plans?
Is it measured by
the way we walk
talk
sing
salute
or keep silent
or by being peaceful when others are violent,
how many dollars we've lent,
letters we've sent,
how well we observe Lent
or is it by how many hells we've bent –
never being late on our rent,
never a scratch,
never a dent,
does that make it evident,
does that represent
a successful experiment?
Is it marked by
how my times we've read
the Bible,
Koran,
Bhavagad Gita,
Torah,
Aesop's fables
or is it rather how many tables
we've served
does that make us deserve
the title and prowess
of a success?
Does it show by
how well we understand Shakespeare,
dissolving all our fear,
swurving to avoid a deer
or how well we hear,
when we’re 90?
Is success counted by
the number of old ladies we help cross the street,
how many pots of tea we steep
toms we peap –
or is it by the company we keep?
Is success measured by
keeping it legit
how many hours in meditation we sit
how easily we shit
or how many
slams we dunk
touchdowns we punk
or homeruns we plunk
by the trophies,
rings,
medals,
ribbons,
honors
or autographs?
Is success measured by
merely taking one step
on the moon,
when squiffy or stewed,
a jump, a leap, a glide
finally hitting our stride?
Is it measured by
the holiday cards we send,
shirts we mend
or how far our back can bend
thank you notes we write,
lamps we light,
ending a fight
or messages in a bottle we set afloat,
how many times we vote,
or always hitting the right note?
Is it measured by
having all the right answers
or not giving up after having all the wrong ones –
how many times we make the tough decisions,
tell the truth
or trust our intuition
or doing something you've never done,
or doing something you've done a million times
and will do a million more?
Is it measured by
leaves racked,
driveways shoveled,
weeds pulled
corn shucked,
lips tucked,
or tummies sucked?
Is it measured by
floors mopped,
hair cropped
or bad guys bopped –
how long we can stand on our head
or balance on one leg instead,
while baking bread,
on a water bed
how many doors we hold
bedtime stories we have told
merchandise we have sold
or how many people we have kept warm
when they're cold
how many years we have when we're old
or how many records made of gold
on the wall?
Is it judged by
how many marines we recruit
bulls-eyes we shoot
houses we loot
suits we zoot
or how many times you toot
after eating beans –
is success fitting into skinny jeans
with muscles round and lean
or an apartment tidy clean
fulfilling all our dreams
or just feeling serene?
Is success ever based
on what we lack
not having a nuclear attack
or never feeling outta whack
turning the other cheek after a smack?
What do you think about success?
What do you feel stakes your claim?
Don't be ashamed -
Let it rain!
Wear your success
like an adamantine headdress.
Now Let me be clear,
You take the wheel and steer
And you define
In your mind
What it means to be decked out in success?
What dress to wear to impress
The Goddess of Success?
Let it sparkle and glow
Keep it for yourself,
Or let it flow.
However you define your success,
Doesn't matter to me
as long as your doing your best.
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Is it valued by not caring about Success at all?
