it is folly to compare one’s self -
one’s accomplishments -
to those of others - especially to those 
who came before;

	when the whole world was new,
when nothing was known,
accomplishment flowed free and easy;
every frontier was ever so near
and cresting the horizon was the work of a single step;
	today -
one starts their life new
but already old - that horizon
is invisibly distant;
one may walk miles, days, years…
sometimes whole lives;
and never 
see 
anything new.

it is folly to compare -
so don’t.
do not compare, but rather use;
the accomplishments of those gone before us
       are not meant to be a funhouse mirror,
distorting us, our visions of ourselves, making
waves and curves where one would have thought
to find a straight line;
the accomplishments of those gone before us
	are a tool -
pick it up, handle it with care;
inspect it and know it and use it -
and suddenly
the horizon will be
right
there.

and here then
is the final trick - 
        when the time comes to set down your tools
        (as all one day must),
do so with care;
do so without ego
or braggadaccio;
        do so in the certain knowledge
that if you have used your tools (all inherited)
well -
        cared for them and polished them and kept them
        in the same trust with which they were presented to you -
someone coming after you,
trudging from that same lost starting point
towards that same horizon you helped expand,
someone will find your tools
and
        (if they are clever)
will recognize…
not just the craftsmanship,
but also the gift.
and if they are indeed clever,
they will be
thankful
and not 
envious.