I lay in my coffin reviewing my legacy.
The only thing that mattered to me
was achieving more and more.
I accumulated and stored away
all the riches the world offered me.
Each of life’s temporary rewards-
money, fame, power- disintegrated
or fell into the hands of the undeserving.
For all I gained, I had nothing to show
because the only ones that really mattered
remembered me for what I lacked:
the kindness the poorest displayed,
the humility the richest mustered,
the sympathy the coldest imparted.
My quest for success cost me my value.
I never once offered what costs nothing-
a smile presented to a stranger,
a compliment to my rude neighbor,
and a hug to the unsuspecting outcast.
What counted most in life was not
the dollars in my bank account
but the number of hands that
received my charitable outpourings.
What was important was not
my noted professional accomplishments,
but the influence I had on others.
What mattered was not my drive to succeed
but every act inspired by a need:
to demonstrate compassion to the unloved,
to show forgiveness to the condemned,
and to give attention to the forgotten.
The endless rows of church pews were empty.
Author notes
Option #2
“You will not be remembered for what you got, but for what you gave.”
In a list
A contest entry
- Rise Today! by Acidanthra.
800 points, ended March 3, 2008, 11 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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I really liked this. I think it had an odd rhyme. Some lines rhymed and some didnt, it interupted the flow. I think there were good lessons here but the outlay was a little difficult for me to follow, maybe it was just the rhyme.
I do like the way it started and ended, very powerful.
Criss -
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Thanks for the comment. Any rhyming in this poem was unintentional except for the first two lines of the last stanza where I used rhyme to make those lines stand out because they're really the core message of the poem. Thanks for holding the contest that inspired it
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No one, on their deathbed, wishes they had spent more time at work...
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You really are a philospher. I am beginning to see a style of yours that is very philosophical and reflective, and what you write is genius, really. Once again, you have had me reflecting. Great work.
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I slept about 8 hours the last three days
so I hope you can imagine I broke my brains here and there, desperitaly wanting to catch every layer you embedded in this one 
The message of this poem is powerful. There are things in life that matter, and others that are just redundant. It leaves the reader wondering why some people actually chase a lot of those unnecessairy things in life
Very well done!
Leander
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I think we all need to be reminded of this, once in a while...
I have always made it my goal to brighten at least one person's day, every day of my life - to make at least one person feel better and get a smile out of them.
If I've accomplished nothing else in life - I've accomplished at least that much.
This poem makes me want to be a better person. I should volunteer my extra time. I should give more to charities. I should probably (oh my god, I can't believe I'm admitting this) go to church. I should keep in touch with friends... the list goes on and on!
Incredibly well written and thought-provoking. Very mature and wise for your age. Insight not only beyond your years, but beyond the grave.
In the end, it doesn't matter what our money has bought us... what matters is what our time did.
Love your work, as always.
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If only, right?
The last line was brilliant - very strong. Don't let my tone fool you, I love it
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All those insights and you reference the last line? That one and the first were just afterthoughts to tie the piece into the prompt (making it like a story). I think you're just in awe of my limitless wisdom
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That just might be it, haha.
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UNBELIEVABLE! a tremendous write in every way... beautiful quote for inspiration and you took that and wrote so clearly about the important things in life. what matters and what doesn't... how easily we all can try to hold onto what will only turn to dust... a legacy of love and compassion never will dry and blow away...something like that grows and re-seeds even after death.
i can't really say enough about how much i liked this... without rambling on too much.. which i have a tendency to do.
i guess i have one word left... GOLD!
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Thank you sooooo much. Too bad you're not the judge
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i'm not???? oh... different contest... bummer.
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Lol. I know. I wanted to write for yours but I gotta go to class soon.
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