Hello Bob. That's an interesting way of looking at two people expressing their thoughts a subject. However, the term 'competition' involves the concepts of 'rivalry' and 'opposition'. I have never viewed people's literary work along these lines as there is surely room for everyone's ideas and efforts to express themselves in this way. For my own part, I have always been open about following in the literary/ rhyming footsteps of Rupert Bear but it does not follow that I am in any way a 'competitor'. A 'competitor' also implies that the participants wish to somehow 'win'.
My viewpoint on this, is that in order to have a 'winner', there must also be a 'loser'. (which in my book amounts to a 'judgement' by others as to whether one effort is 'better' than another) By encouraging people to express themsleves in whatever way they think fit, it surely benefits everyone and nobody really loses or wins. In my verse 'I am a Nobody', See my profile) I have already indicated that I do not wish to put myself in any position which implies being above anyone else. However, to emphasise this point in relation to winning and losing, I did write a poem entitled 'TO LOSE AND YET TO WIN' ( IN A RHYMING COOKBOOK' 2013) in which I extol the virtues of playing to 'lose' rather than to win.
I will try to reproduce that verse here to give a flavour of this concept and this way of life.
Best wishes
Bill
TO LOSE AND YET TO WIN.
Winners always think they’ve won
when once the game they play is done.
For them the secret of success
must be to win and to impress.
It is their focus and their aim
to be the winner in their game.
These people are not altruists
for them, no other game exists.
I understand this sentiment
but find it an impediment.
For winning means that someone’s lost
and therein lays the hidden cost.
For me there is a subtle charm
to live my life and do no harm.
So why would I put someone down
or be the cause of someone’s frown.
There is a certain satisfaction
that can flow from selfless action.
So I have made a specialty
of losing games with subtlety.
When people start to play a game
they think opponents play the same.
They will assume ‘all’ want to win
within their game or discipline.
But I don’t want to win at all
for that might make another small.
So if I am obliged to play
I contribute a different way.
I make out that I play real hard.
but it’s really a charade.
My aims within the games I choose
is eventually to lose.
B. Withers 2012
