When should we give up on our ambition?
When should we realize that our poems—our novels— will never be published or that our paintings will never be displayed—
our self-assured genius unread, unseen, and unappreciated.
When will we stop sending entries into contests,
or letters to publishers? When do we come to
terms with the fact that we are just a teacher,
just a husband, just a father, and that is all that
we will ever be.
We are just ordinary men with overblown ambitions,
and our talents, through lack of luck or quality,
will never win us fame or recognition.
Be contented with the little things we tell ourselves.
Pay your taxes and love your children, and abandon
the frustrations of a broken heart.