Bowing to Experience

Suited and booted,
armed with the tools of my trade,
my success shining out for all to see,
though my face was hidden
behind the public mask,
I thought I was invincible.

‘Careful,’ she warned,
‘you know what comes before a fall’
‘An icy street? One too many?’
I laughed, not considering that
failure was an option.
I knew I was invincible.

So when I fell,
it was with such a crash
that the whole world saw
my ignominious, upturned self
coming back down to earth,
to her, who is indeed invincible.