Success Wish

You know you’re as feckless and stupid
As the movie heroes kids worship,
Everyone stubbornly going on.

The narrative doesn’t demand this.
You demand this of the narrative,
That it reflect your intransigence,

Your relentless urge to continue
Crawling or, in a heap, keep breathing,
Long after you already fell down.

You cherish this. You have no respect
For the life that goes out in the storm
And surrenders rather than crawl home.

You don’t understand it. You were born
Of your ruthless need to carry on.