I try to say goodbye,
I take it down, but with a sign
I place it back upon the shelf,
I’ll dump it later I tell myself.
I hurt a friend of twenty years
She almost broke down in tears
The night I won the final contest
And everybody said that I was best.
I didn’t know she would care so much
“Twas just a game, – a little touch
Of who is the greatest one
When all is said, when all is done.
I won the game, but I lost
Being champ came with great cost.
For what was just a game for me,
Was a loss for her for all to see
It is time for it to go,
Now there’s no one left to know,
The memories it brings to me.
My scrabble trophy, earned in 1993.
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About oneta hayes
ABOUT ME
Hello. To various folks I am Neat’nee, Mom, Grandma Neta, Gramma, Aunt Neta, Aunt Noni, Aunt Neno, and Aunt Neto (lots of varieties from little nieces and nephews). To some I’m more like “Didn’t you used to be my teacher?” or “Don’t I know you from someplace?” To you, perhaps, I am a Fellow Blogger. Not “fellow” like a male or a guy, but “fellow” like a companion or an adventurer. I would choose to be Grandma Blogger, and have you pull up a chair, my website before you, while I tell you of some days of yore. I have experienced life much differently than most of you. It was and is a good life. I hope to share nuggets of appreciation for those who have gone before me and those who come after me. By necessity you are among those who come after me and I will tell you of those who came before. Once upon a time in a little house on a prairie - oops, change that lest I commit plagiarism - and change that “house on the prairie” to “dugout on the prairie.” So my story begins...
Sweet aroma 
I understand what you mean by “Now there’s no one left to know, The memories it brings to me.” So well said, Oneta!
Yes, most of the main characters in this event are gone. I did change the year to make it a bit harder for anybody to remember the contestants. Although I’m sure it was water under the bridge except for my friend and me. Thanks Judy.
Oh that’s so sad… This is why I don’t enter contests very often. Lol…. 😉
It was sad. But I guess I understand now that it is harder for a champion to lose than it is for a challenger to lose. I had nothing to lose except a game. Thanks, dear M.
What wonderful message the poem carries!
The pain of losing a friend is far greater than the pleasure of winning.
It did not really cause the loss of her friendship, but it did put pain in it. I didn’t realize it until sometime later when I heard her mention it. At that time, I realized how much it meant to her.
Good to hear from you, sandeept. Thanks for the comment.
I kept looking at the trophy, trying to figure out what it could represent. I have to admit, Scrabble took me by surprise lol
I imagine the winged lady was quite generic. The little engraved label is on a plate stuck on the base. I’m glad it got your attention. Wish you were here and had insomnia as I do right now, we could play a game. 😀 Thanks for the comment.
LOL I’m awake! Although I really should get to sleep. It’s 4AM here 🙂
And three here. I woke about 1:15. Worked a Sudoku puzzle then decided to come see what going on here. I was tossing around an idea for M’s prompt for tomorrow “Meadows in light” and got busy brain. However, I haven’t written it. I might after while. Loved your lady on the Tried to Say Goodbye.
I haven’t gone to sleep yet. I did a Sudoku, too!! And yes, wound up back here. I already have tomorrow’s done, and Sunday’s too. I’ve tied in my weekends with the #DailyHaikuChallenge 🙂 Go back to bed Oneta lol
Sure enough you do Sudoku during the awake-when-I-should-be-sleeping times! That’s sisterhood for sure. I’m not saying good night yet, but I am getting sleepy. :D.
❤
“Being champ came with great cost.” So true. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for reading and leaving a comment. It is encouraging.
nothing is just ever a game….. even a game.
~B
I play games that are just games for me, but I’m a very practiced loser! Thanks, Beaton, for visiting and for the comment.
I dont like to lose, I rather take winning very seriously a little too seriously…
~B
I understand. 😀
shouldnt you be sleeping ? Its 0713am my time though
~B
Yes, I should have been. 😀 I ready to start my Sunday now; you are probably wrapping it up. I’ll leave in about 15 minutes to teach a class at my church. Good day ahead. That’s my life – good!
Now my Monday is beginning..
The world is a topsy turvy place….
Have a blessed week
~B
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My state is like a pan with a handle. You had an interesting post, Beaton.
It is very strange how people become so upset of something as simple as a game. Win or lose it is just a game. The one who plays the best on the day wins. Perhaps the friendship was already lost before the competition.
No, I think not. But other circumstances led to us not having the same relationship. Aging and moving. Thanks for the comment. 😀
It is hard often to ascertain what may be just a ‘game’ for one person and for the other is extremely IMPORTANT.A very thought provoking poem to make us all think. Thank you.
I think it is harder for the champion to lose than for the challenger in any situation.
I love Scrabble!!! Fortunately, I’ve never been competitive & can still enjoy game playing without the added pressure of wins vs loses. I do shy away from playing with those who do however…for which I’m very grateful. I am glad you were able to dispose of the heavy weight this win brought you, I pray you replace its space with something that brings you JOY instead! Hugs & Blessings!
Not much good now. I intend to take the plate off if I can Then maybe someone can use it for something else. I did play with a couple ladies last week. I had terrific luck of the draw, keeping consonants and vowels with every turn and I drew blanks and s’s. I won, both games. Sadly, I’m afraid I won’t get to play again. I was a fill in for a person who was absent. It was pure luck that I won, but …. I
I wasn’t ready to stop. I can still play Rummicub (?) with my grandson; he almost always wins. I win about one is six or seven games.
Sad to realize a win for you may not be such a win after all. Contests are great in a lot of ways, but do cause changes in people…good and bad.
It probably was not a riff that would have lasted. We might have had more games except for moving and aging. That called for a change from that set of people whom I loved. But I moved right on to others I loved, and so did she. She has made her last move now – she was Heaven bound.
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Thanks.