Poem: The King of Potential

[roxybeast]

Here's the favorite poem I've written, designed to make you feel better. (And, if y'all can tell me how to center things, let me know).
Bill

The King of Potential
© Bill Isbell 10/2001 All Rights Reserved


I am the King of Potential and unrequited dreams,
my confidence slain at the altar of your expectations,
your doubts only serving to fertilize the soiled wasteland
in which I cultivate my own fears of inadequacy,
but at least, in that, I am successful,
for if you challenge me to fail, I will succeed,
and if you challenge me to succeed, I will fail,
at least, in that, I am consistent, ... or am I?
for your hope in me is born in my inconsistency,
which means that I must have already succeeded in your eyes,
somewhere among my many failures, and perhaps I can again,
or perhaps you’re just being nice, already having determined
that I will never fulfill your initial expectations of me,
you euphemistically saddle me with “potential” to justify
your prophesy and to excuse my failure to perform
up to your expectations of my suspected grandeur,
as if you needed reinforcement to prevent your doubts
of my ability to fulfill your expectations from actually occurring,
doubts of my failure or doubts of my success,
I doubt that any of it truly matters, ... to me, ... or except to me,
for I am the King of Potential and unrequited dreams,
and within me hope springs eternal, and for that,
I will potentially be eternally grateful.

[Arcadia]

intrincado...I missed the subject in some parts... I would say "if you understood it, it's ok!".

[roxybeast]

If you've ever been labelled (or even dismissed) has having "potential" to which you have not yet fully lived up to, then you understand this poem. It's not complicated. It's just an emotion. If you're down on yourself, your situation, read this poem and you will feel better about your life.

Bill