Let Me Fail..

I was the poster child for diligence

Praised for my academic excellence

Effortlessly I seemed to sail through

School, college, (apparently) life too

In my limited world-view I came to believe

I would be successful, I was destined to achieve

My goals in life- I am also embarrassed to admit

I thought I would not have to work hard for any of it..

**

The first brush with what like failure appeared

Knocked me down- I felt unmoored, I did fear

That the “special” talent I used to possess

That extra something that brought me success

Had disappeared forever, but then I found

I needed to change my strategy the next time around

Since then, more failures than successes I’ve had to face

In various spheres of life- I have finally learnt to embrace

Both failure and success-though I cannot claim

That through both of them, my spirits stay the same..

*

With greying hair I’ve learnt a lesson

We all fail, it’s not a question of if but when

Failure could be minor, or profound

Could follow success or happen the first time around

But save for possession of powers superhuman

Failure is universal, for all women and men

Success bolsters strength and confidence

But unsung failure teaches the importance

Of continuing efforts, and improving your game

Success, on the other hand, tells you to stay the same

Therefore going from success to success

Causes stagnation and hinders progress

Let me fail and climb and rise again

Rather than on a plateau of success remain