(title inspired by the 1981 film TRUE CONFESSIONS)
the ballots were counted
and the tribe spoke
my torch was silenced
...
I was escorted across
the rope bridge
before the medals
were given out
>
and I realized that
I put on my running shorts
plus the thin sleeveless undershirt
and ran for what seemed like years
but no one felt any desire to add me
to the race's official list
>
Gallants can also be Goofuses
(as I know too well)
Goofuses can also be Gallants
(as I know quite well),
but perceived Goofuses tend
to show their best traits
when Important people aren't looking
>
an example being Gregory Peck
in THE BIG COUNTRY
who was worthy and brave
mostly when other people weren't watching
>
you don't win races that way
instead you make sure you're seen
doing the right things
by, to and with the right people
>
being unseen almost everywhere
keeping your unblown horn
in its case
not rushing to people
with a chair and a footstool
when you think they need
extrasuperspecial application
of thick, perhaps-sincere social butter
>
that's when you lose the race
and get buried
in the Potter's Field of Poetry
with the rest of the Goofuses
the rope bridge
before the medals
were given out
>
and I realized that
I put on my running shorts
plus the thin sleeveless undershirt
and ran for what seemed like years
but no one felt any desire to add me
to the race's official list
>
Gallants can also be Goofuses
(as I know too well)
Goofuses can also be Gallants
(as I know quite well),
but perceived Goofuses tend
to show their best traits
when Important people aren't looking
>
an example being Gregory Peck
in THE BIG COUNTRY
who was worthy and brave
mostly when other people weren't watching
>
you don't win races that way
instead you make sure you're seen
doing the right things
by, to and with the right people
>
being unseen almost everywhere
keeping your unblown horn
in its case
not rushing to people
with a chair and a footstool
when you think they need
extrasuperspecial application
of thick, perhaps-sincere social butter
>
that's when you lose the race
and get buried
in the Potter's Field of Poetry
with the rest of the Goofuses
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