When Opportunity Knocks
“Opportunities are like flies. We kill most of them.” —Roy E. Peterson
We all have heard the phrase, “Opportunity knocks at our door.”
Yet sometimes stubborn, it must knock us to the floor.
Perhaps we’re in pajamas and will not let it in.
Because we’re not prepared, we lose a chance to win.
The sudden chance may need to grab us by the throat,
Because we’re busy trying to keep our boat afloat.
We have to go along, accepting the importunity.
Success requires seizing every opportunity.
LTC Roy E. Peterson, US Army Military Intelligence and Russian Foreign Area Officer (Retired) has published more than 7,300 poems in 102 of his 125 books. He has been an Army Attaché in Moscow, Commander of INF Portal Monitoring in Votkinsk, first US Foreign Commercial Officer in Vladivostok, Russia and Regional Manager in the Russian Far East for IBM. He holds a BA, Hardin-Simmons University (Political Science); MA, University of Arizona (Political Science); MA, University of Southern California (Int. Relations) and MBA University of Phoenix. He taught at the University of Arizona, Western New Mexico University, University of Maryland, Travel University and the University of Phoenix.
Yes, this is so true, and well said. Complacency and distraction can cause us to lose out on the best opportunities. Conversely, it’s possible to jump on what seems to be a good opportunity, only to find out later that it was a tempting distraction. I like your poem.
Thank you, Yael, for your perceptive comments and liking the poem.
Let me take this opportunity to say “good work, Roy!”
Russel, I learned from you that sometimes the most succinct poems can pack a punch. I appreciate your comment. Thank you.