My childhood ear

Then there is the chance that I might be judged on my skill, and my skills might be found wanting. It is not a problem to be wanting, to lack, to do as well as possible. But only if it weren't everything, all my want, all my need.  If only it weren't the dream poured into my childhood ear.  A dream I am not sure is mine, or a distortion of what was poured into childhood ear.

Cast in the mire
When I base a story on my past, the character starts off in my mind the hero but moves...