To Lose

I could have been the best.
I could have been really tough.
I could have been above the rest,
But it wouldn’t have been enough.

I could have been really tough.
I could have shown the power I possessed,
But, it wouldn’t have been enough.
I could have been above second-best.

I could have shown the power I possessed.
I could have made their victory rough.
I could have been above second-best,
But now I’d had enough.

I could have made their victory rough.
I could have put them to the test,
But now I’d had enough.
I could have sooner laid my fight to rest.

I could have put them to the test.
I could have continued in my bluff.
I could have sooner laid my fight to rest,
Though I wasn’t really all that tough.

I could have continued in my bluff.
I could not have fallen below the rest.
Though I wasn’t really all that tough,
I could have been the best.