A LESSON IN HUMILTY

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=215 BGCOLOR="#999999" TEXT="#080000" background="0440eb82ermwup.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <div> "PRECIOUS MEMORIES"</div> <div>  <embed src="HTMLobj-498/Precious_memories.mid" autostart="false" width="145" height="70">  </div> <div> sound control</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="food for thought 3 homepage"><B>BACK TO HOME 3</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="guestbook.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GUESTBOOK"><B>VISIT GUESTBOOK</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="memories.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MEMORIES"><B>BACK TO MEMORIES</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="memories.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MEMORIES"><B>SELECTION PAGE</B></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=95 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #000000;" BGCOLOR="#999999" TEXT="#080000" background="043b85f1ermwup.jpg"> <div> <B>FOOD FOR THOUGHT MEMORIES</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 width="100%" colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <I>A LESSON IN HUMILTY</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>A LESSON IN HUMILTY</I></div> <div> <IMG SRC="19aee0e0.jpg" border=0 width="238" height="270" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Mr. Hardison at age 13</B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="282" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2254 WIDTH="278"><bR> <div> "A LESSON IN HUMILITY"</div> <bR> <div> There is a fact that's pending</div> <div> of a tale that has no ending,</div> <div> and it's always when you think you can't be beat...</div> <div> in daily work or play or in a contest fray,</div> <div> a lesser one will come with your defeat!</div> <div> This tale that I'm revealing,</div> <div> to me is so appealing,</div> <div> although this act of fate occurred to me;</div> <div> that once in '48 these facts I now relate,</div> <div> how I learned a lesson in humility!</div> <div> In basketball we won,</div> <div> we were rated number one;</div> <div> for two years we didn't lose a game.</div> <div> As a member I would beam</div> <div> on this mighty high school team,</div> <div> to never lose again was our main aim.</div> <div> But for a special treat</div> <div> to make their day complete,</div> <div> we went one night to play this country school;</div> <div> we went there for their awe-</div> <div> to prove that we weren't raw,</div> <div> and to let them see that we were great and cool!</div> <div> We were cool alright,</div> <div> 'cause the temperature that night</div> <div> was cold as a pawnbroker's heart;</div> <div> and when we entered in their small and icy gym,</div> <div> the thermometer was reading down to naught!</div> <div> Where there we had to hov'</div> <div> by an old "pot belly" stove-</div> <div> to warm and thaw our fingers to respond,</div> <div> and the referees came in to bade the game begin</div> <div> with overcoats and muffs that they had donned.</div> <div> And when their team came out,</div> <div> there rose a hearty shout-</div> <div> from the sixty-seven people in the stands,</div> <div> and their players looked so small</div> <div> in their uniforms and all,</div> <div> and not once did they come and warm their hands!</div> <div> And when the game began,</div> <div> with the basketball they ran,</div> <div> and they looked like they never played adept,</div> <div> but every time they shot,</div> <div> and it seemed an awful lot,</div> <div> and every time it went right through the net!</div> <div> And now I must admit</div> <div> that they gave our team a fit,</div> <div> and never once again I'll take for granted;</div> <div> that little country team</div> <div> who blew our self-esteem,</div> <div> who gained our respect that they demanded.</div> <div> And now I see it clear</div> <div> there is a message here,</div> <div> that no matter how skilled you come to be;</div> <div> that if you're great or small</div> <div> or expert in your call,</div> <div> there's always someone better you will </div> <div> see.</div> <div> William E. Hardison</div> <div> copyrights recorded</div> <bR> <div>   <div align="center"> <div style="padding:0px; border:1px solid #999999; width:235px; margin: 0px;background-color:#F2F4FA;"> <form action="http://pub2.bravenet.com/elist/add.php" method="post" style="margin:0px;"> <div style="background-color:#DBE0F5;padding:3px;font:12px arial;color:black;"><b>Join the Mailing List</b></div> <div style="margin:10px; font: 11px arial; color: black; text-align:right;"> <div style="margin-bottom:5px;">Enter your name and email address below:</div> Name: <input type="text" name="ename" size="25" maxlength="60" /><br> Email: <input type="text" name="emailaddress" size="25" maxlength="100" /><br> <input type="radio" name="action" value="join" checked style="border: 0px;"/>Subscribe  <input type="radio" name="action" value="leave" style="border: 0px;" />Unsubscribe  <input type="hidden" name="usernum" style="border: 0px solid black; height: 0px; width: 0px;" value="126720699" /><input type="hidden" name="cpv" style="border: 0px solid black; height: 0px; width: 0px;" value="1" /> <input type="submit" name="submit" value="GO" /></div> <div align="center" style="margin-bottom:5px;"><a title="Free Mailing Lists from Bravenet.com" href="http://www.bravenet.com"><img src="http://assets.bravenet.com/cp/bn-elist.gif" alt="Free Mailing Lists from Bravenet.com" border="0"></a></div></form> </div></div>   </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <A HREF="an_early_eye_opener.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="AN EARLY EYE OPENER"><B>NEXT POEM</B></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>