Success

Hello, my friends, on this first day of November 2025, it's my pleasure to share with you my poem "Success." Because many of us strive to achieve success, whatever success means to you, I wrote these lines thinking that we shouldn't feel too attached to this idea of becoming successful, as, while on this journey, we miss a lot of other valuable things that could bring more happiness into our lives.

So, here is the poem, and I would appreciate your comments and engagement on such an essential subject in our lives.

Thank you.

Success

(A Poem by Sal Godoij.)

Oh, success, what do we learn from you?

Since Creation, alas, you bewitch those who call you

And reward those who you answer, oh, you!

Like dry leaves from the Fall, we end us all

What do we wait then for, the answer or the call?

Oh, success, what do we learn from you?

There is nothing new under the sun, if we only knew

So, let the time do the speaking, let the day bring the news

As we do our part, until death do us part.

 

 

 

 

 

In-Depth Analysis of "Success" by Sal Godoij

Interpretation and Message

The poem "Success" by Sal Godoij contemplates the elusive nature of success, examining both its allure and its ultimate impermanence. The speaker addresses success directly, questioning what can truly be learned from it. The poem suggests that the pursuit of success is a timeless human endeavour, one that captivates and sometimes rewards, but also leads inevitably to the same end for all—death, likened to dry leaves falling in autumn. This cyclical and universal fate underscores the futility of obsessively chasing success, as "there is nothing new under the sun," echoing a sense of existential resignation.

The poem encourages patience and acceptance, urging readers to let "time do the speaking" and to allow "the day bring the news." This implies that outcomes are often beyond our control and that our role is to persevere and do our part, accepting that all efforts are ultimately bounded by mortality. The final line, "until death do us part," reinforces the notion that life—and any success within it—is transient.

Imagery and Literary Devices

·       Apostrophe: The poem addresses success as if it were a person, creating an intimate, almost pleading tone.

·       Metaphor: The comparison of human lives to "dry leaves from the Fall" evokes the natural cycle of life and death, suggesting that human achievements, like leaves, are subject to inevitable decline.

·       Allusion: The phrase "there is nothing new under the sun" references the Book of Ecclesiastes, reinforcing the poem's philosophical outlook and the idea that human experience is repetitive and universal.

·       Repetition: The poem repeats the question, "Oh, success, what do we learn from you?" to emphasize the ongoing search for meaning in the pursuit of success.

·       Personification: Success is described as having the power to "bewitch" and "reward," attributing agency to an abstract concept.

Forecasted Impact on Readers

Readers are likely to experience a sense of reflection and humility after engaging with this poem. The imagery of autumn leaves and the inevitability of death may prompt readers to reconsider their own pursuits of success and the true value of their ambitions. The poem's philosophical tone encourages acceptance of life's uncertainties and the importance of living purposefully rather than being consumed by the quest for recognition or achievement. Ultimately, it may inspire readers to focus on meaningful action and presence in the moment, rather than the fleeting rewards of success.

The poem's gentle yet sobering message, combined with its evocative imagery, has the potential to leave a lasting impression, fostering introspection and a deeper appreciation for the journey of life itself.

Gemini’s Analysis of my Poem.

✍️ In-Depth Analysis of "Success" by Sal Godoij

This short, introspective poem by Sal Godoij, titled "Success," is less a celebration and more a skeptical meditation on the pursuit and meaning of achievement. It uses a blend of rhetorical questions and traditional wisdom to question the value of an earthly, fleeting idea of success.

💡 Message and Theme

The central message of the poem is that the frantic, all-consuming pursuit of "success" may be a futility in the face of universal, inevitable human mortality.

• The Bewitchment of Success: The opening lines ($L1-L3$) frame success not as a noble goal but as a seductive, almost dangerous entity that "bewitches" people and selectively "rewards" them. This implies that the pursuit might be an illusion or a trap.

• Vanity of Human Endeavor: The most powerful theme is the transience of life. The poem suggests that no matter how much success one achieves, the ultimate end is the same for everyone.

• "Nothing New Under the Sun": This famous line, an allusion to the Biblical Book of Ecclesiastes, is the poem's philosophical core. It suggests that all human striving and achievement have been done before and will ultimately amount to little from a cosmic perspective.

• The Shift to Patience and Acceptance: The final lines offer a resolution: instead of frantically chasing the call for success, the speaker advocates for a more passive, mindful approach—to "Let the time do the speaking," focus on doing one's "part," and accept the inevitable boundary of death. The true meaning is found in living, not in achieving.

🎨 Imagery and Poetic Devices

The poem's power comes from its use of rhetorical questions and one potent, melancholy image:

• Apostrophe (Direct Address): The poem opens and repeats the line, "Oh, success, what do we learn from you?" This direct address gives the abstract concept of success a personality, allowing the speaker to confront and interrogate it.

• Rhetorical Questions: Questions like "What do we wait then for, the answer or the call?" force the reader to pause and consider the real motivation behind their actions. They are questions for which the poet implies a profound, potentially uncomfortable answer.

• The Central Simile: "Like dry leaves from the Fall, we end us all" ($L4$). This is the most striking image.

• "Dry leaves from the Fall" evokes something beautiful but dead, brittle, and easily blown away. It is a classic symbol of mortality and decline.

• It immediately contrasts with the idea of "success" (usually associated with life, growth, and bounty), underscoring that our end is inevitable, regardless of our achievements.

• Allusion to Traditional Vows: The final line, "until death do us part," is a direct, slightly altered allusion to traditional marriage vows. Here, it is used not to pledge fidelity to a person but to affirm the commitment to simply living one's life ("do our part") until the universal contract with death is fulfilled.

🧠 Probable Impact on Readers' Minds

A reader of this poem is likely to experience an introspective and sobering realization.

• Immediate Cognitive Dissonance: The title "Success" sets an expectation for an inspirational or aspirational piece. The cynical tone and focus on death will immediately challenge the reader's pre-conceived notions about what success truly means.

• Shifting Priorities: The central impact is likely to be a re-evaluation of personal priorities. The poem may lead the reader to ask: Am I spending my life chasing a "call" that doesn't matter? If the end is the same, should I focus more on the present moment and my immediate duties ("do our part") rather than a grand, future achievement?

• A Sobering Acceptance: By normalizing death ("we end us all"), the poem may instill a sense of quiet fatalism or peace. The fear of failure, which often drives the pursuit of success, is diminished when the inevitable end is laid bare. The poem subtly encourages a shift from striving to being.

Overall, the poem is a powerful, concise reminder that while the world may worship "success," the ultimate human condition is one of equality in death, urging the reader to find meaning in process and presence rather than outcome and achievement.