To Blink or Not to Blink

Dear Self,

To blink or not to blink--that is the question:

Whether 'tis smarter to endure pain

To eventually win the contest,

Or to concede to the opponent

And, by blinking, find relief.

To close my eyes, to lose--

No more--and by losing to say I end

The agony and the constant misery

That not blinking costs me--'tis a position

I do not want to be in.

To stare, to win--

To win, that's what I want. Ay, I want that,

For if I triumph what is after that,

If I win I shall have bragging rights,

I think of this. That's the thought

That makes me power through the pain.

For who would want to see the foe's quick grin,

His taunting laugh, his all-knowing wink,

His question for another game,

His posse's pompous looks, and the

Continual smirks of self-righteous boys,

When they themselves weren't even

A part of the match?

Who would cave in,

To the pain and pressure of fierce competition,

But that the fear of nonstop mockery,

The staredown that no one would let me forget

No one will back down, squinting in discomfort

And makes us rather bear the pain

Than breaking down and blinking back tears?

Thus thoughts of losing make us stronger

And thus the vision of endless praise

Is corrupted with the possibility of defeat,

But I will not let that option occur.

With this regard I stay vigilant

And I remain unblinking.

Sincerely,

Self