A memory from my youth as a competitor in musical auditions (instrumental and vocal), preliminaries, and finals. I did well until that last one, described below. My senior year of high school. So, there was no ‘next season’ for me at least not in high school terms.

Second-place Mantra

I am the chosen one
I am the chosen one – not
the judges think otherwise
to my surprise my demise

only rated a two some-
times the world seems
oh so coo coo ca choo
sum-dung-dumb-fu

ruined my intensely
trained and fought-for
my hard-one self-image
my virtuoso visage

there’s always next year
start from scratch – no fear
I’ll get’em next season
it only stands to reason

lowly second-place mantra
or loser’s lament
metaphorical apraxia
emotions staggered and bent

–LE