Good Luck ~ A Poem by Lewis J. Bates

Seizing the Moment: How Bold Hearts Create Their Own Good Luck

Good luck doesn’t stay long—are you ready when it knocks?

Good Luck

Lewis J. Bates

O, once in each man’s life, at least,
Good Luck knocks at his door;
And wit to seize the flitting guest
Need never hunger more.
But while the loitering idler waits
Good Luck beside his fire,
The bold heart storms at fortune’s gates,
And conquers it’s desire.

Source

Reflection

This poem reminds us that good luck is rarely a passive visitor. It may knock softly, but it does not linger forever. Opportunity favors those who are alert, courageous, and willing to act before doubt talks them out of motion. Waiting for perfect conditions often disguises fear as patience. Bates contrasts the idle comfort of wishing with the bold energy of doing. Luck, in this poem, is not magic—it is momentum. When we step forward with intention, confidence grows, hunger fades, and life responds. The poem gently challenges us to ask whether we are warming ourselves by possibility—or boldly opening the door when it arrives.

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As you read this poem, ask yourself:

When opportunity appears in my life, do I hesitate—or do I move with courage and claim it?