Better Kept If Left Unnoticed Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Why would anyone wish to want fame?
With a name attached,
As if labelled to place...
A price tag to associate one's worth,
To be a human being.
One valued and deserving,
Of a pretentiousness notoriety gets.
And seems automatically to be given.

Or if not...
A name attached to a fame to earn,
Endeavored with effort and sacrifice.
Seldom escapes criticisms,
And judgements passed.
By those sitting on their aspirations.
Offering demeaning comments.
Hoping the doing discourages,
Others left to accept...
Remaining humble with skills and talents.

Thinking...
It is better if left kept,
Unnoticed.
Suppressed.
Less expressed.
And fearing to mention.

As if their gifts to get from God,
Had been intended to keep to themselves.
Protected.
Unsuspected to detect.
To rust untested.

And if this is true,
The wheel to have been created...
Would still be debated,
As a waste of time by a mind demented.
Like many nameless pioneers.
Long forgotten for their contributions.
Or stolen by those,
Gifted with skills to plagiarize.
And deceive with learned abilities,
Taught to them and done to teach.