She’s earnest
in all the best ways.
Plasters on that quivering smile
faces the crowd
does her best,
but her best
is not good enough.
Earnestness is not enough.
But I tried!
is not enough.
She needs to be committed
to earnest effort
toward excellence,
maybe for years,
and maybe even then
her earnest desire will not
be enough.
Desire must lead to skill
mingle with effort
sprinkle with luck
and maybe then
earnest will be
enough.
Shawn L. Bird 