It has never been my intention

To be noted by honorable mention.

Nor do I aspire (desire!) to come in second —

Runner up, zinc cup, also ran,

Almost can be seriously considered.

If I don’t have the where-with-all to come in first,

To beat the best, to best the worse;

The artistic agility, the creative virility

(as opposed to those with mere ability)

The forget it!

I’ll be the Nowhere, Nobody, Nothing, Nil,

Never Was and Never Will!

And to you who would wear a poet’s face,

I might be bad, but I’d know my place!

Paul Doster

LaGrange