Greatness Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

You want to be led to greatness.
You believe that it comes,
Without pain and sacrifice.
You perceive it to be a condition taught.
Something instructed or can be bought.
Something delivered upon your acceptance.
But no one known that is considered great...
Waited in anticipation to have it placed,
And presented on a plate as they safely ate!

Greatness isn't something someone takes.
Greatness is announced...
After someone has been trounced,
Through the trenches!

And 'remarkably' survives.
Surprising even the one who is stunned.
This was not a consideration,
In the mind of one who kept focused...
On what at the time,
Needed to be done!

And greatness was bestowed,
By what one did and showed!

Rising to heights,
Inspite of opposition!
And not submitting to a conformity,
That sits and seeks to be led!

Greatness is ahead of those,
Following!
Those feeding,
Upon wishes to be fed!
By that which has been left,
To nibble and taste...
From pioneering explorations!
In a desperation to succeed!
And most times discovered,
In disregard of danger!
In disregard...
Of blood one might bleed!