O Failure,
You make my bones shiver at the thought of you,
And send my feet racing a thousand miles at the sound of your name.
Yet still, you linger
Like a friend I cannot fathom,
One who wounds and teaches in the same breath.

You sow in me the seeds of fear,
The weeds of discouragement,
The shadows of ignorance.
You clip the wings of my dreams,
Grounding me when all I long for is to soar.

At every step, you are one pace ahead,
At every near-victory, you swing the blade and cut it short.
But the sun is never still,
And as it races west to lay the day to rest,
I too will race
And rest not until you fade into night.

Dark may be the sea,
Cold may be the air,
But day is bright,
And brighter still is my will.

For I cannot win always,
Yet I shall not lose forever.
I will strive,
I will rise,
I will meet you again
Not as your captive,
But as your conqueror.

Adieu, Failure.
Adieu.