Making a Mark

Free-verse

by Claire Francesca Therese S. Bergonio First Place, Literary Contest 2023 Poems Category

poem

Wake. Eat. Sleep. Wake. Eat. Sleep. A monotone repetition done by you and me. Followed again and again ‘til it all goes in a blur, Memories getting fuzzy, words starting to slur

As a child, you yearned to be someone great, To be someone admirable in whom people will amaze. Yes, you decided that by making a mark, You’d give yourself and others lovely feelings of warmth.

And yet as you grew, you saw with uncertainty, That you’ve yet to do anything extraordinary. As that thought sinks in, you’ll have strayed away, Due to the numb grayness that’s festered and can’t be kept at bay.

But I ask you, my friend, is that what life’s all about?

To have your achievements be written in chants and shouts?

Don’t get me wrong, that’s lovely, but just so to say, Your perception of all of this might have gone the wrong way.

Instead of amazing feats, try to look at the opposite; The precious moments that seem to only last for a minute. Yes, they are small, but their worth’s akin to gold, For it is in them where your heart shines so bold.

Those few seconds show people who you truly are, Your kindness and beauty so great, it’s completely bizarre, Leaving witnesses smiling, skipping merrily with a rhyme, Keeping with them those memories that’ll last for all time.

So don’t fret! You’re already doing great, In giving people laughter on an otherwise boring day. And when the time comes again where you’ll consider the accomplishment you made, Just think of the warmth you placed in our hearts that will never fade.