Without a mentor, precious time is lost,
pursuing dreams with spunk and energy,
encountering delays, defeats and cost--
most times alone devoid of synergy.

But with a mentor, showing how it's done,
like mother cheetah teaching cubs to kill,
techniques of hunting added to the run,
applaud a budding skill with victory's thrill.

Most luck is found where preparation meets
an opportunity and not a place,
where random serendipity repeats
a charm or win to any game or race.

It's belly's fire that triggers these events,
made stronger with a mentor's good advice,
to hasten growth and wisdom that prevents
mistakes and losses caused by rolls of dice.

Desire is nothing without belly's fire,
just empty wishes, hoping for success.
A person needs convictions that inspire,
to strengthen, challenge, conquer and impress.

A mentor takes them where they ought to be
instead of where their feelings want to go.
At first they might object and disagree
but mentors know what's best to help them grow.

So, be a mentor, find someone with fire
to channel and increase for all mankind,
a youth with gut and grit who can aspire
to greatness, not a slug that's left behind.