I Won't Be Left Behind

I run my fastest
But still get beat.
I land on my head
When I should be on my feet.
I try to move forward, (5)
But I am stuck in rewind.
Why do I keep at it?
I won't be left behind.
The harder I am thrown,
The higher I bounce. (10)
I give it my all,
And that's all that counts.
In first place,
Myself, I seldom find.
So I push to the limit-- (15)
I won't be left behind.
Some people tell me you can't,
Some say don't.
Some simply give up.
I reply, I won't. (20)
The power is here,
locked away in my mind.
My perseverance is my excellence,
I won't be left behind.
Make the best of the moment, (25)
The future is soon the past.
The more I tell myself this,
The less I come in last.
Throughout my competitions,
I've learned what winning is about. (30)
A plain and clear lesson--
Giving up is the easy way out.
So every night before I go to bed,
I hope in a small way I have shined.
Tomorrow is a brand-new day, (35)
And I won't be left behind.

Sara Nachtman