The Truth About Tigers

occasional musings and free verse poetry, approximately

Ambition

There was a time when winning mattered,
pride aglow in victory’s radiant light.
A young mind open to the world,
I filled it with dreams, ambitions.

Lately, with age, I’ve less concern
for rivalries, save one—
the shadow of myself from yesteryear.

To better who we’ve been
bears greater weight
than youthful dreams of transient glory.

Today, Melissa is hosting at dVerse, inviting us to craft a poem inspired by a line from selected dVerse poets. The fourth line of this poem, “I filled it with dreams, ambitions,” is borrowed from “Hidden in my Box” by Björn Rudberg.

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Published by

Nick Allison

Responses

  1. Helen Avatar
    Helen

    A lovely cento, Nick. You stitched Bjorn’s line into your write seamlessly.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Nick Allison Avatar
      Nick Allison

      Thank you so much, Helen!

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  2. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar
    Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

    I recognize myself in your poem and thank you for reusing my line in such a good way.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Nick Allison Avatar
      Nick Allison

      Thank you, Bjorn. I appreciate the inspiration and your wonderful poetry as well.

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  3. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I can very much relate.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Nick Allison Avatar
      Nick Allison

      Hopefully most of us can, on some level! Thank you!

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  4. Melissa Lemay Avatar
    Melissa Lemay

    A wise lesson and one I think fits in quite well with the theme of mono no aware we thought about with Monday’s haibun. The transient nature of life is put to good use here in your poem. Thanks for joining in, Nick!🙏🏻❤️

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    1. Nick Allison Avatar
      Nick Allison

      Thank you, Melissa. I did write one for Monday’s haibun prompt as well, just need to tweak a few words!

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  5. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

    Seasoned wisdom, Nick.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Nick Allison Avatar
      Nick Allison

      Thank you so much, Ms. Jade!

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. msjadeli Avatar
        msjadeli

        You’re very welcome 🙂

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  6. Debi Avatar
    Debi

    That last stanza speaks truth.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Nick Allison Avatar
      Nick Allison

      Thank you, kindly. Debi!

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  7. Mish Avatar
    Mish

    I can relate. Its interesting the way our priorities shift. Bjorn’s line fits in perfectly.

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  8. kim881 Avatar
    kim881

    I love how you spring-boarded off Björn’s line in your ambition poem, Nick, and how you started with those lines about winning and ‘victory’s radiant light’ – I think many of us start our lives like that. This poem is so relatable, and these lines ring true for me:

    ‘Lately, with age, I’ve less concern
    for rivalries, save one—
    the shadow of myself from yesteryear’.

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