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Middle of the road

I hate myself for half completed things;

The easy options of
Good enough.
And Adequate.
And Could Do Better.

The reasonable man
Behaving reasonably,
Achieving reasonable results.

The hollow man
In the middle lane,
Doggedly following his profession.

Priest and fortune teller
Shown the door
With a small glass of sherry for the road.

When you were young,
Did you aspire to Passion?
To brightly burn and perish in the flame?

When you were young,
Did you aspire to greatness?
A rebel in some cause that never came?

Author notes

From a failed perfectionist
Written February 21st, 2006

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Comments

1 - 14 of 14
  • Philogos gold member
    June 8, 2006
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    Thanks for the kind words. Glad you liked it. vic
    Edited on Jun 09, 3:52 p.m. because ''.


  • June 8, 2006
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    I am about the same I think, I feel as though I am never really great at one thing, just average at a lot of things, no matter how much I strive to be perfect. I have to say that your poetry is perfect or as perfect as poetry can be.. Tink

  • Philogos gold member
    April 2, 2006
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    Thank you for the comment Amy. I think I'm probably not a perfectionist, which is what annoys me. Everyone else seems prepared to focus on just one good thing and here I am dispersing my energy on a load of frivolity. As for being old - well I was like this at eighteen too. vic

  • Amy-gail
    April 2, 2006
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    aaww i loved your flow, and aside from that i liked the theme
    although im not a perfectionist.. are you?
    anyway keep up the good work i feel sorta weird saying that to a grown man haha being only 18 myself im sure youre more experienced anyway oh well im rambling so ill hush

    Amy


  • SuZyCuE
    March 2, 2006
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    I Love this, I know myself I am alwaays wanting to do better. I say to myself the next one will be better, or tomorrow will be a better day. Great poem. I Loved it.

  • Philogos gold member
    March 1, 2006
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    Starting at the back, I find the quesion aout the end rhyme hard to answer. Somehow, rhyming the last line of an otherwise unrhymed piece seems to work for me as a wrap-up. 'Il ciclo della mela' is another example on this site. In both cases the rhyme seemed right.

    As far as 'reasonable' goes, I see that as a sort of pun. Being reasonable and adjusting one's views to accommodate other people is a 'good' thing but the compromises that result mean that you don't get what you originally wanted. Your results are only 'reasonably' good.

    The irony of that was particularly evident to me some years ago when I had to deliver a very large project and I needed to be much less reponsive to criticism than I can manage. Nearly killed my career.
    Edited on Mar 01, 1:29 because 'failure to achieve perfection'.


  • jantastic gold member
    February 28, 2006
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    headpiece filled with straw

    I suspected from the first line that I would relate to this piece it hit close to home for me. I'm curious if the rhyme in the last stanzas was intentional or if it just presented itself.
    I can appreciate the repetition of "reasonable" but wonder if you considered trying other words in that stanza (status quo comes to mind). Just thoughts from a sleep deprived me with whom you stuck a chord.

  • Sin Heart Tom
    February 26, 2006
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    Passionate

    LIE. there is no such thing as a failed perfectionist. I think this was not only an amazing write, but it's so amazingly honest. you know, reading this poem makes me not scared of getting married in a month. I've been a rebel for forever, and you know, now i realize i've always had a cause. Thanks for opening my eyes and reminding me that hey, it's ok to never settle.

  • Harlequin
    February 26, 2006
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    Excellent poem Vic, we go through life wanting the next day to be better than the last, the next poem to be better, the next line....Regards Jeff


  • NurseChilly gold member
    February 26, 2006
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    Like Lisa said.. the Hollow Man reference was so fitting, as you love the Waste Land... I can only say, that we're never too old to stop wanting or needing it... and it's that IT thing that we search out and desire from the pages both old and new..

    liked this.. well done




  • cvillelisa
    February 21, 2006
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    I will never give up Passion.

    All Poets or "want to be Poets" yearn for that perfection don't they? Part of the madness that never sleeps. To write the perfect poem -- this might not be written from the Poet's perspective but it is how I relate to it. Unfortunately for me, as well, last I checked I'm still quite imperfectly human and therefore will undoubtedly be mad at least one day longer.

    Like the Hollow Man reference.


    Liked this. Have some claps.

    Lisa


  • February 21, 2006
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    I have never been a perfectionist but can understand the frustration of always wanting to get something just right. Imperfection can be quite attractive


  • Cat
    February 21, 2006
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    too young too give up -

    m


  • chills gold member
    February 21, 2006
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    For a failed perfectionist, this is a bloody good poem darlin! xx debs

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