Nothing To Lose

[Dr. Cambridge]

NOTHING TO LOSE

They were right,
I was wrong.

They won,
I lost.

They succeeded,
I failed.

They were victorious,
I was defeated.

They were congratulated,
I was ignored.

They were accepted,
I was rejected.

They were honoured,
I was shamed.

They were excused,
I was blamed.

May as well read the Good News,
Now that I have nothing to lose.

© 2010

[paperleaves]

Your signature comes to mind when writing a response to this poem-- "In pure mathematics, infinity has no measurable fractions and recording its duration is pointless."

What is the subject of this poem? Why are we, the readers, supposed to feel or see this struggle and defeat? I think if you added some vital details, this could be a stronger poem. Dostoevsky wrote in Notes From Underground that we all write for an audience, whether we are cognizant of who that audience is or not. This piece seemingly defies that claim, and I, as a reader, can selfishly cry, "What about me?"

Keep posting! Thanks for sharing.
love
paper

[PrinceMyshkin]

I've always understood "Good News" to be a synonym for the Gospels or perhaps for the NT as a while; so, in response to Paperleaves, I might say that the point of this poem is someone's reluctant, skeptical falling back on Christianity after he's lost at everything else.

[Dr. Cambridge]

Your signature comes to mind when writing a response to this poem-- "In pure mathematics, infinity has no measurable fractions and recording its duration is pointless."

What is the subject of this poem? Why are we, the readers, supposed to feel or see this struggle and defeat? I think if you added some vital details, this could be a stronger poem. Dostoevsky wrote in Notes From Underground that we all write for an audience, whether we are cognizant of who that audience is or not. This piece seemingly defies that claim, and I, as a reader, can selfishly cry, "What about me?"

Keep posting! Thanks for sharing.
love
paper
Hi paperleaves,
Thanks for your reply. A request for poems about loss led to my writing this one, and if I've lost my audience then I "rest my case". I deliberately avoid details other than listing the areas of loss, and in this way allow room for speculation and reflection about circumstances and causes of such loss. Perhaps a cry of "What about me?" could be made by someone who denies being a cause of such loss.

[Dr. Cambridge]

I've always understood "Good News" to be a synonym for the Gospels or perhaps for the NT as a while; so, in response to Paperleaves, I might say that the point of this poem is someone's reluctant, skeptical falling back on Christianity after he's lost at everything else.
Hi PrinceMyshkin,
Very interesting observations.
Ironically there are Christians who find the Hollywood style of some church cultures indigestible and are uncomfortable with the elitist direction they take. The apparent success of these institutions is not to be preferred over the refreshing and comforting words of the Gospel.
Thanks for your astute reply.