They asked for excellence in all things
money made for the masters’ purse
relying on sweat to show my worth
coffers filled by my work

put on the smile that radiates
a thousand watts of brilliance
happiness is the currency
of social norms all embrace

the bonding between one or more
is paragon for all involved
never with tears, avoiding the shouts
happiness found with these masks

never to sin is the goal
lest Lord Satan takes my soul
forever and ever in lakes of fire
rightness avoiding this awful Hell

model citizen that knows what’s best
balance of helping the unfortunate
while keeping the troubled in their place
Solomon smiles at my wisdom’s breath

refinement of manners and of speech
never a hair seen out of place
always the best said in its time
suave is only way they know

finally there’s beauty’s realm
seeking ****** to show my worth
pleasuring all by sight and by touch
creating a world with ******’s ******

these paragons are not my life
as ideal achievements escape my grasp
I was born to be real
not to be perfect in all things.

© 2017. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20170428.