The American Dream Poem by Doug Gunderson

Fifty is coming fast and hard
Forcing me to become reflective.
But how does one judge their life
Without being too subjective?
Money? Power? Fortune and Fame?
Job titles and a fancy car?
Each of us has a benchmark
To make us proud of who we are.
A big bank account sure would be nice
Or maybe a bit more fame,
But I ambled down a different path
And I played a different game.
My poems have not won awards
And my novel’s still not done;
But success has come to me
And in this game I have won.
My house and car are paid for
I have money in the banks,
But these are not the reasons
That every day I can give thanks.
I have two adult children
Who are off and on their own.
Each one doing well these days
I admire how they have grown.
Though they’ve moved out of the house,
They still want to see their dad.
Nothing else in life I could have done
Would make me feel so glad.
So though my weight’s a problem
And my career may be a mess,
Every day you’ll see me smiling.
In what matters… I’m a success.