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The clock's a taunt, the sun a thief,
Stealing hours meant for grief,
Or joy, or rest, a quiet space,
Erased by work's relentless chase.
A fire burns, a driven need,
To plant a flag, to sow a seed
Of excellence, a shining mark,
Ignoring whispers in the dark.
The body aches, the mind is frayed,
But onward still, the price is paid
In sleepless nights and hurried meals,
For greatness that the vision feels.
A gilded cage, this burning quest,
Where passion turns to manifest
A hunger that can never cease,
Demanding more, denying peace.
The summit calls, a distant gleam,
A tantalizing, waking dream,
But what's the worth, the victory won,
If self is lost when day is done?
So pause a breath, release the hold,
Let other stories now unfold,
For greatness blooms in balanced light,
Not just in shadows of the night.
Robel Schwarz is a McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville in the class of 2027. He is studying computer science and political science.