(Have you seen the movie Matilda, based on the children's book by Roald Dahl, about the girl who could move things with her eyes? The movie Mr. Holland's Opus, about a band teacher who really wants to write a grand piece of music? Amadeus, about the talented but irreverent Mozart, as told by the jealous composer Salieri? I was recently struck how art, academia and hardship often make people want to be the best, not just good... or maybe that's just me? There's a reason extraordinary people make for good movies. Anyway, here's a poem I distilled from these thoughts.)
In the book,
Matilda's telekinetic powers vanish
after the genius skips a few grades
and her awful family skips town,
her mind no longer bored,
her spirit no longer oppressed.
But not in the movie.
She keeps them in that.
Because it's more fun that way.
Because we want to be
special,
extraordinary,
like Salieri wanted to be Mozart
(but there can only be one Mozart).
Like Mr. Holland wanted to write an opus
but his life impacted more
through ordinary influence
of teaching his students
and loving his family,
so the people became his Magnum Opus.
We too miss that being
skillful and present in the moment
are more valuable.
Still we dream of being
special,
extraordinary,
having a magical talent
to separate Us
from the common moviegoers.
Because it's just more fun
to be the only one
to tip over a glass of water
from ten feet away.
