Tough Losses, Rough Crosses Poem by John Sensele

Harden not your heart when humble pie lands on your plate
Rubbing your pride in the mud
Nudging your memory, reminding you it ain't too late to debate
Whether crushing with a thud

Kills, steals or heals
Your longing pride
That feels
Too big to deride the ride

Into peacock attitudes
Built and overblown over the years
To delude yourself you've soared to such lofty latitudes
You can't roll back the years to join volunteers

Who willingly accept the loss
Suffered in soccer
Where World Cup match outcomes toss
Out Spain, France, Argentina, Spain, or Brazil with no rancor

To entertain
Today or tomorrow
To ascertain, maintain or retain
Sanity, dignity, humanity in your bone marrow.