Mastery

In junior college,
A career counselor
Offered an aimless college kid
This sage advice:
Find something you’re good at,
Stick to it,
And you might find bliss.

Years later,
I found that something—
I’m good at hurting people
And, even before this insight,
I’ve stuck to it.

Yet,
The unreturned phone calls,
The emotional vacancy,
The derisive barbs
Have not added up
To that happy sum.
I must not be trying hard enough.