Hope Springs Eternal

I am a wreck. A total wreck. What has happened? Well, I have not been swept away by any natural disaster, no speeding express train has struck me, and I have not been in a car accident. What has happened is that another Vocal Challenge has come and swept over me like an artificial tsunami. I always check out the challenges and choose the ones that I am sure I can handle and follow the instructions. So far, as much as I have submitted not a nibble.

I feel like poor Casey who struck out at the bat. I’m on home plate, the heavy wooden bat held tightly in my hands, I look straight ahead and a hard, white ball with Vocal Challenge comes whizzing toward me at what seems like 100 MPH. I cannot help it I squeeze my eyes shut and swing the bat hoping to hear CRACK, instead from behind me a voice shouts, “You’re out!” So I slink off the field and back to my PC chair and my fingers continue dancing over the keyboard. How many more, how soon, who knows but I figure as long as I am in the game I have a chance and in my mind, I keep thinking positively as hope springs eternal on and on.

As a poet, I suddenly understand better those incomprehensible lyrics from one of my favorite songs “MacArthur Park”

MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark

All the sweet, green icing flowing down

Someone left the cake out in the rain

I don't think that I can take it

'Cause it took so long to bake it

And I'll never have that recipe again

Oh no!

And each time I write up a challenge it takes me so long to just let it out of my hands. Then I know that once I have done one I can never duplicate it again or have that recipe again. So sadly and nervously I wait to see if the cake I baked was good enough but so far it never has been. If there is a specific formula besides the instructions given I haven’t found it yet. Still, hope springs eternal.

My mantra is always positive thoughts with each word I write, positive thoughts with a clear sight of my goal. If in doubt I put my page aside to await another day to add more to it and to see how it is developing. Perhaps I am too fond of myself and need to step back and look at what I write more critically. As I move forward I am sure that one day I will be able to complete that writing formula that will finally let me get that coveted prize. For me to finally win a challenge it can even be third place to know that I am on the right path with my writing and I can express myself well on any subject set before me.

I imagine myself like a character in an Old Hollywood movie with a little devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. The little devil is saying, “Aw, common, just give up why even bother”. The angel says, “Keep thinking positively it is bound to happen if you keep submitting”. So I stick my tongue out at the devil and smile and nod at the angel. I don’t know how much longer it may take or if I ever will get a nibble but I think that if I just keep trying maybe just maybe the judges might like one of my submissions. Here’s to hoping.