Facedown With Mediocrity
by Michael Doyle

In every town and in every city
We find challenges met with mediocrity
These are the moments of losses taken
And near certainty of a world wanting and mistaken

For some, this is hard to be faced head on
While others still hang on to victories already gone
Most of the time, losses are never taken easy
These are never simple nor seen as light and breezy

In this, youthful rebellion will find its voice
It is spoken loudly if it truly given the choice
In this world, where it's hard to be impressed
Acting like a hellion is seldom suppressed

Some things are enough to hurt one's conscience
Like when we've been told to follow bad science
In defiance, we salute with one finger as we resist
Only to find stuffed ballot boxes can make us desist

It's all in the losses that we are forced to take
Faced bravely or not, it causes true hearts to break
While at these times, we could use a little compassion
We too often look around to find it's out of fashion

Sometimes, we find life is merely a walking shadow
With sunlight so covered that it's hard to know
What it is that we cannot quite see
This brings us back to the study of mediocrity

To be actors in life takes active diffidence
And the taking on of the world with confidence
That just maybe unanswered questions are alright
As long as these are dragged into the light

This is the path through all of life's seasons
To not be too tied up by the so-called reasons
But instead to simply live as we must
As if there are really enough reasons to trust

Whatever role it is we decide that we must play
We must not allow mediocrity to get in the way
Instead, push the boundaries, whatever people say
In so doing, excellence can forge a new day

(c) April 26, 2024    Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved