his life was like sidewalk art

it was beautiful and serene

but everyone chose to walk all over it

and it only took one good storm to wash it all away

his life was like a b-side on a popular song

it was brilliant and the composition was complex

but it was largely overshadowed by the other side

some fans recognized the melody while everyone else sang along to the hits

he lived life like the less famous sibling of movie star

he did his own thing and thrived

but when it came to accolades they always mentioned the shadow he grew up in

no matter how hard he tried to shine on his own

another quasar seemed to draw the eye

he was mars to everyone else’s earth

just a lone planet

seemingly incapable of life on it’s own

dried up from years of circling just too far from the sun

ruddy in complexion from too great a love of wine

tripping over his own feet when it was his turn to take a bow

his magnum opus was just shy of brilliant

his face just slightly too round to notice

the perpetual second fiddle

an offkey note in a gentle harmony

but he kept on keeping on through it all

never one for the spotlight that seemed to dance just out of reach

some people prefer the main star

others build a solid career as character actors

the grand sum of their work taken for granted

all while helping to right the vessel

he’d never have a star on the walk of fame

but he would always be adjacent to it

it was his lot in life

always a step behind innovative

but never boring