Differentiator

Were you there when they tore my dream down with a shredder,

And beat it to a sodden pulp?

Oh, I didn’t cut a pretty sight then! I was young.

Were you there when they chose the Smart Pants over my hard work,

The glitzy exterior over my inner grit?

They rejected me, with their eyes that won’t even flit.

And they all complained, ‘You are boring.

You don’t have that differentiating factor that’s needed.’

I almost killed myself, to get that factor.

But it seemed that I had no multiple to factorize with!

Those were the days when I slogged the hardest,

To prove myself, to impress someone.

I offered them what was best in me –

Myself!

The passersby weren’t even eager to hear my sales pitch.

I looked myself in the mirror – What’s wrong?

The mirror turned out to be no help indeed.

Today I look at their sprawling mansions and their swanky cars,

I would lie if I said I wasn’t a wee bit jealous.

But now, I no longer kill myself over the simple matter of the fact –

I no longer care for their opinion.

I no longer care what they think of me,

Nor would I hide face, when they appraise me with their cold, sneering eyes,

And smile a little, when they would disdainfully look down my puny self.

Every dog has his day, even the one too mediocre to be differentiated.

 I would most certainly, have mine.