ace’ing tears

to think that polished
strategy was enough
to clear the ranks

to think the one-two
punch was enough
to forego thanks

was to think more
of skill than
experience

one I’m pretty good
at, and the other
just oblivious

thought
for two months i struggled to get past a game level and recently determined not to stop playing until surpassing it. success came, but the next rank was lower unexpected and the climb lent to feeling underwhelming. i actually held back tears in disappointment, then laughed as my son helped me rethink my strategy. after a while i felt better in the reminder that whatever is next in store for us in this life is often not as imagined or expected, and our perception of where we are sometimes needs to be humbled against outcomes we assume to be headed toward.