Pretending to be Bukowski: A Poem Collection

Second Best

Imagine singing your favorite song on stage

In front of a crowd of your peers

And you're scared, but you sing your heart out

Only to get a red ribbon that says '2nd place'

 

Imagine calling someone your best friend

And doing everything you can to help them

Only for them to push you around and lie to you

And tell you they love someone else more

 

Imagine the person you look up to

Promising to spend time with you

And do all these things for you

But they ditch you at the last minute.

 

Imagine being someone's back up plan

That they don't love you for you

You were just a convenient person to turn to

Because their first choice didn't work out.

 

And imagine being interrupted

Nearly everytime you spoke

Because your words weren't nearly as important as theirs

So you're forced to keep quiet

 

How would you feel, if this happened to you?

If you were just a background character,

No one's priority but your own

Constantly walked all over by most people you surround yourself with

 

That's me, and this is my life

Second best to everyone and anyone

The first to lose in any contest

The one always overlooked

 

Always told I'm not the prettiest

But beautiful on the inside

As if that matters in this superficial world

Where heart is put second to beauty

 

So I'm done being the door no one ever opens

I'm choosing to put myself out there

Because I don't deserve my perpetual second place

I deserve to be first for once

 

So fuck society and the world

Especially all those who put me second

I don't need you or your bullshit

Because you know what?

I'm awesome, and it's your loss.